Staff Sergeant First Class John Marshall Post Office Building

STAFF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS JOHN MARSHALL POST OFFICE BUILDING -- (House of Representatives - February 01, 2005)

Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 289) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8200 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Staff Sergeant First Class John Marshall Post Office Building,'' as amended.

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There was no objection.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation commemorates the life and distinguished military service of Sergeant First Class John W. Marshall of Los Angeles, California. Sergeant Marshall was killed in action in Iraq on April 8, 2003, at age 50. He is survived by his loving wife, Denise, and his six children.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to his participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Marshall served in Germany, Korea, and the first Persian Gulf War during his Army career. Sergeant Marshall was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

For the last few years, leading up to his death, Sergeant Marshall had been considering retiring from the Army he loved; but beyond taking a leave of absence for 4 years while he battled Hodgkin's lymphoma during the 1980s, Marshall faithfully served in the Army since he was 18.

Sergeant Marshall was buried at Arlington Cemetery on May 15, 2003, despite the fact that almost all of Sergeant Marshall's family lives on the other side of the country. Sergeant Marshall's wife and six children came to Arlington Cemetery for that burial of their father and beloved husband.

On the issue of where to be buried, Denise said the kids were told how their dad died, and they voted their dad was a hero.

Mr. Speaker, nothing in the world is truer than that. The House has not passed a more warranted piece of legislation in this Congress or for many Congresses. How appropriate it is to recognize Sergeant Marshall's bravery in the first week since the historic Iraqi election on Sunday. Without a doubt, heroes like John Marshall made the Iraqi election possible.

I know the scores of Iraqis who literally risked their lives to vote on Sunday are extremely grateful to Sergeant Marshall for giving his life for their freedom.
I thank my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), for honoring Sergeant John Marshall through H.R. 289, and I personally think that there is absolutely no better way to name a post office than she has done here today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to also urge all of my colleagues to vote, because our vote, not our words, but our recognition of this unsung hero is what will bring others to understand his great contribution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 289, as amended.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.

The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8200 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, as the `Sergeant First Class John Marshall Post Office Building'.''.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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