WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Thursday, June 23, 2005, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) delivered the following statement during a Special Order on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Emanuel was joined Reps. John Lewis (D-GA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Brian Baird (D-WA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in reading the names of American men and women who fell while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Members will continue reading the names during Special Orders until all of the fallen are memorialized in the Congressional Record.

“Mr. Speaker, last week my colleagues and I began a solemn tribute to the over 1900 men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“We recited the name and rank of each service member who fell in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of war, from 2001 through the beginning of 2004.

“For the next hour we will continue this reading, honoring the fallen of 2004 and 2005.

“We will continue this reading on the floor of their house, the People’s House, until we have properly recognized all who have died in service to our nation.

“In this chamber we often invoke the sacrifices of our fallen heroes in general. Seldom do we take the time to thank them individually

“We read these names into the Congressional Record in the hope that our nation will never forget their sacrifice.

“God bless and keep each of the brave Americans whose memory we now honor.”

During the first Special Order on Thursday, June 23, 2005, Emanuel was joined by Walter B. Jones (R-NC); Barney Frank (D-MA); Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-NY); Betty McCollum (D-MN); Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT); Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ); Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); Charlie Norwood (R-GA); Marion Berry (D-AR); and Jose E. Serrano (D-NY).