Memorial Day
Floor Speech
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Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, you know even the most hotly debated issues in this building pale in comparison to the American soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to give us the freedoms to debate and disagree in the first place.
Later this year, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. Most democracies, they don't even come close to that. They don't survive that long, but our great country has survived because of the brave men and women who have answered the call to defend our freedoms at home and all across the world.
Sadly, some of our Nation's heroes never return home. Alabama has numerous memorials across our great State to honor our own fallen heroes. The USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL, hosts more than 400,000 visitors annually where they learn more about our military and those that served.
The city of Trussville, AL, is home to the Fallen Warrior Monument which honors Alabama servicemembers killed since 9/11, and Huntsville is home to one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the country.
These landmarks and events help tell stories of daughters, sons, husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers who answered the call to defend our country at home and abroad not knowing what their future might hold. You know, stories of mothers who hug their children and husbands who kiss their wives without knowing if it was their last time.
Next week, we recognize Memorial Day. Many will use this as an opportunity to grill out and go to the beach, but this isn't just another day off or another long weekend. It is a day to honor these fallen heroes and reflect on their sacrifice.
Today, I would like to recognize two fallen heroes from my State of Alabama: Alex Klinner of Auburn and Jeffrey Hall of Huntsville, along with their families. Honoring Alex Klinner
Mr. President, earlier this year, we lost six servicemembers in a refueling mission, including three members of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, AL. Among those were this young man 33-year-old Auburn native Alex Klinner.
Alex joined the Air Force in 2017 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Auburn University after graduating from Auburn in 2016 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He deployed four different times in just 7 years, logging more than 563 hours in combat zones or support roles.
But as impressive as his pilot skills were, Alex's brother-in-law James said that he shone the brightest in his role as a husband to his wife Libby and a father to his three young children.
Alabama continues to mourn the loss of a hero gone way too soon. But Alex's legacy of faith, family, and freedom will continue to live on. Honoring Jeffrey Hall
Mr. President, SSG Jeffrey Hall of Huntsville is another Alabama soldier whose life was cut short in service to our country at the young age of 28. Jeffrey's mom Annette said that he was destined to serve in the military. She recalls him as an energetic and headstrong child and a wonderful big brother to his sister Emily.
Jeffrey started showing an interest in being a soldier when he was only 3 years old. He was fascinated with army uniforms and always wanted to dress up as a soldier.
Annette and her husband Charles encouraged Jeffrey's dreams. She said they must have bought out every army surplus store in North Alabama to give Jeffrey whatever military gear that he could find to use and to wear.
As soon as Jeffrey graduated from Huntsville Christian Academy in 2000, he set out to make these childhood dreams a true reality. After Jeffrey made a great soldier, he became a jumpmaster, a pathfinder, and a sharpshooter receiving numerous awards for his accomplishments, including Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
He had just re-signed for another 4 years in the military when his vehicle hit an IED in Afghanistan on June 1, 2009, the day before his second wedding anniversary with his wife Allison. Jeffrey experienced the joys of fatherhood for only 6 months to his daughter Audrey Faith before he deployed. She was only a year old when he was killed.
Annette decided to honor her son's sacrifice by starting an American Gold Star Mothers chapter. This chapter connects and supports more than 40 mothers across 18 counties in North Alabama and the Tennessee Valley. They also raise awareness for the sacrifices made by Gold Star families, including with a float in Huntsville's Memorial Day parade each year.
Annette repeatedly says it is a joy to speak of her son because she never wants to forget the life he lived or the sacrifices he made for his country. Her and Charles are heroes for raising their son to love this country and continuing to carry on the same sense of patriotism even after Jeffrey's untimely death. Memorial Day
Mr. President, John 13:15 says:
Greater love has no one than this: [than] to lay down one's life for [his] friends.
Alex Klinner and Jeffrey Hall both know the danger and knew the danger involved with their mission, and they did it anyway. They left the safety of their homes so we could sleep safely in ours. They were fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, and friends; but to us, they are American heroes.
We owe them our full gratitude. We also owe our gratitude to the Klinner and the Hall families. The loss they have to live with every day is unthinkable. We continue to hold them in our prayers this Memorial Day and Memorial Day weekend.
As Memorial Day approaches, I hope we will take the time to honor Americans fallen along with all of our brave Gold Star families around the world.
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