Specialist Michael E. Phillips Post Office

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1423, introduced by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), would designate the facility of the United States Post Office located at 115 4th Avenue Southwest in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the Specialist Micheal E. Phillips Post Office. This bill is cosponsored by the entire Oklahoma State delegation and was favorably reported without amendment by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on April 13.

Mr. Speaker, it's altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Ardmore for Army Specialist Phillips to honor a true American hero and his service to country. At this moment in our war on terrorism, with the recent death of Osama Bin Laden, this is a moment to remember those who have been fighting the war on terror for years.

Micheal E. Phillips hailed from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and graduated from Ardmore High School in 2006. At Ardmore High, Specialist Phillips excelled in both academics and athletics, playing football, track, and cross country. He loved history as well as drawing, and was so talented he was offered admission to the San Francisco Art Institute. Instead, however, Specialist Phillips felt a calling to serve his country.

His mother recalled that, ``He came home one day and said he wanted to join the Army, and we got in the car and went down to the recruiting station.''

With this motivation and inspiration to serve and protect the country he loved, Specialist Phillips enlisted in the Army in 2006 and was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Air Division, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Tragically, on February 24, 2008, Specialist Phillips was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. He was 19 years old, and he left behind his parents, Angela and Steve, as well as two younger brothers and a younger sister.

As a Representative from Oklahoma, it is an honor to stand before this body and pay tribute to a fellow Oklahoman who made the ultimate sacrifice courageously defending our freedom.

I am truly grateful for the service of Specialist Phillips and for all of those who serve and protect us each and every day. I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source