CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 March 16, 2009
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March 16, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 7333 ‘‘Now John had no idea about these Ma- proceedings on this motion will be diers were conducting combat oper- donna and A-Rod rumors [about an affair], postponed. ations in support of Operation Iraqi and John goes, ‘So, where’s your wife?’ I f Freedom. Specialist Navarro, a mem- couldn’t believe it. But A-Rod just said she ber of the United States Air Force Jun- was in Florida at their other home with SPECIALIST PETER J. NAVARRO ior ROTC Program, graduated from La- their kids. POST OFFICE BUILDING ‘‘Then John asked him if his wife worked. fayette High School in 2003. He subse- John wasn’t trying to be smart. He was just Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to quently decided to forego his accept- curious. He told John that she didn’t work, suspend the rules and pass the bill ance at Truman State University in but that she had a psychology degree.’’ (H.R. 1217) to designate the facility of order to join the United States Army. John faced his death with courage, dignity, the United States Postal Service lo- As noted by his father, Jose, a retired a never-quit attitude and an awareness that cated at 15455 Manchester Road in chief petty officer for the United was hard to fathom. Ballwin, Missouri, as the ‘‘Specialist States Navy, Specialist Navarro was a John’s mother told of a nurse who started Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building’’. strong-willed young man and a dedi- coming to the family home in June. ‘‘The first time she was here, John said, ‘I know The Clerk read the title of the bill. cated soldier who cared for the soldiers why you’re here. You’re here to make me The text of the bill is as follows: that he worked with and would do any- comfortable in my last weeks. But it could H.R. 1217 thing for his friends. Mr. Navarro also be more than a few weeks, right?’ ’’ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- recounts that his son wanted to try and ‘‘The kid was just unbelievable,’’ Mr. resentatives of the United States of America in make a difference, and that being a sol- Wetzel said. ‘‘His attitude and messages I Congress assembled, dier was what making a difference is in think changed how some people looked at SECTION 1. SPECIALIST PETER J. NAVARRO POST this time of our lives. their lives. He changed how I went about life. OFFICE BUILDING. Specialist Navarro’s dedication to his ‘‘I feel like a piece of my heart is gone (a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the unit and his country was evidenced in now. The thing I’ll miss most is his smile. He United States Postal Service located at 15455 July of 2005 when he returned home to had a smile that could light up a room.’’ Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, shall John said his Catholic faith and belief in Wildwood to attend the funeral of his be known and designated as the ‘‘Specialist younger brother, Daniel, who had been God got stronger through his illness. Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building’’. One of the things that made John happy in (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, killed in a car accident. Specialist recent months was the start of a foundation map, regulation, document, paper, or other Navarro’s mother, Rowena, begged her that will raise money to help other sick record of the United States to the facility re- son not to return to Iraq in the sum- teenagers enjoy a sports experience. The ferred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to mer. As Mrs. Navarro recalls her son foundation was the idea of John and Mr. be a reference to the ‘‘Specialist Peter J. telling her, ‘‘Mom, they would be a Wetzel. Navarro Post Office Building’’. man short. Somebody’s taking my ‘‘If I can help someone else going through this, then that would make me feel good,’’ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- place, and that’s not fair. They’d do John said. ant to the rule, the gentleman from the same thing for me.’’ The foundation has a Web site— Massachusetts (Mr. LYNCH) and the Mr. Speaker, Specialist Peter J. www.courageforlifefoundation.org—where gentleman from California (Mr. ISSA) Navarro’s life stands as a testament to donations can be made. each will control 20 minutes. the bravery and dedication of the he- When asked a few weeks ago how he would The Chair recognizes the gentleman roic men and women who have served like to be remembered, John said, ‘‘I could from Massachusetts. and continue to serve our Nation at see people having some beers and hopefully GENERAL LEAVE home and abroad. It is my hope that we remembering how I always tried my best, no can further honor his service through matter what I was doing. That’s my mes- Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- sage—just for people to always do their best, imous consent that all Members have 5 the passage of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in no matter what they’re doing or how stupid legislative days within which to revise supporting H.R. 1217 and dedicate the it might seem. And no matter what, there and extend their remarks. Manchester Road Post Office in will always be a reward, no matter how The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there small it is.’’ Ballwin, Missouri, after this out- objection to the request of the gen- In addition to his parents, John is survived standing American soldier. by his younger sister, Lexie. tleman from Massachusetts? I reserve the balance of my time. Visitation will be tomorrow and Friday There was no objection. Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Noll Funeral Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as I may consume. Home, 333 Third St., Beaver. A Mass will be myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in SS. Peter Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to support of designating the facility of & Paul Church, Beaver. Burial will follow at present for consideration H.R. 1217, the United States Postal Service lo- Beaver Cemetery. which designates the United States The family asks memorial contributions be cated at 15455 Manchester Road in made to John Challis Courage For Life Foun- postal facility located at 15455 Man- Ballwin, Missouri, as the Specialist dation, P.O. Box 123, Monaca, PA 15061. chester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building. Also, there will be a golf outing to benefit the Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post As you may know, in the previous Con- John’s foundation Monday at Chartiers Office Building. gress, we had voted to name this post Country Club. For more information, go to Introduced by Representative W. office and, unfortunately, the term www.courageforlifefoundation.org. TODD AKIN on February 26, 2009, and re- ended before we were able to pass this. Mr. LYNCH. I yield back the balance ported out of the Oversight and Gov- But the failure of the Senate to act of our time. ernment Reform Committee on March should not diminish what happened in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 10, 2009, by a voice vote, H.R. 1217 en- the summer of 2005 when Specialist question is on the motion offered by joys the support, the unanimous sup- Peter J. Navarro returned home from the gentleman from Massachusetts port of the entire Missouri House dele- duty in Iraq to join his family at their (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend gation. home in Wildwood, Missouri, not for a the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 987. A resident of Wildwood, Missouri, joyful reunion, but to bury his younger The question was taken. Specialist Peter Joseph Navarro brave- brother, who had died in a car accident. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the ly served with the United States After Daniel’s funeral, Peter’s moth- opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being Army’s 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd er, distraught over the loss of her mid- in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Brigade Combat Team out of Fort dle son, begged him not to return to Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, on that I Riley, Kansas. Iraq. This young man’s response to his demand the yeas and nays. On December 13, 2005, Specialist grieving mother is nothing short of he- The yeas and nays were ordered. Navarro and three fellow members of roic. He had to go back. He said, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- his unit were killed in Taji, Iraq, when ‘‘Mom, they would be a man short. ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the an improvised explosive device deto- Somebody’s taking my place, and Chair’s prior announcement, further nated near their Humvee while the sol- that’s not fair.’’ VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:50 Jun 30, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\H16MR9.000 H16MR9 wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with BOUND RECORD 7334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 155, Pt. 6 March 16, 2009 b 1615 Peter’s commitment and dedication to his GENERAL LEAVE This selfless devotion to his com- country is a shining example of how our mili- Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- rades and his country exemplifies the tary men and women are the finest our nation imous consent that all Members may character of this tremendous young has to offer.