[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11434]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF STAFF SERGEANT RICARDO SEIJA, AN AMERICAN HERO

  (Ms. CASTOR of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an American 
hero who is being laid to rest back home in Tampa, Florida, today. 
Staff Sergeant Ricardo Seija was killed on Sunday, July 8, when his 
armored vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant 
Seija was 31 years old.
  Known as Ricky, Sergeant Seija was a graduate of Leto High School. He 
joined the Army in 2000 and was assigned to the 978th Military Police 
Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.
  His mother, Ignacia, said, ``Since he was a child, he wanted to 
defend his country. He very much loved liberty. He wanted a free 
country without war, without problems.''
  ``Ricky died like a hero, fighting for his country,'' she said, ``not 
just for his country but for all of us who live in America. He loved 
this country very much.''
  He is survived by his wife, Sunny; son, Ricardo; his mother and 
father, Ignacia and Ricardo Seija of Tampa; and two older brothers, 
Jose and Eduardo.
  On behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I salute Staff Sergeant Seija 
for his service and for his ultimate sacrifice to our great country, 
and I ask that all Americans recognize this remarkable patriot.

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