Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6917, which would name a post office in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for Marine Corporal Ryan J. Cummings.
Corporal Cummings was born in Cook County, Illinois, in 1984. Marine Corporal Cummings was set on becoming a marine and, according to his family, signed up for duty on September 10, 2001, the night before the September 11 attacks on our Nation.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Division Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton. Sadly, he died from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Iraq on his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was only 22 years old.
Corporal Cummings was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart in recognition of having made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our grateful Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring Marine Corporal Ryan J. Cummings, a true American war hero.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6917, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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