To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the "SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office".

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 4624, designating the facility of the United States Post Office located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office.''

It was back on May 14, 2007, that Specialist Hartge met a tragic, yet heroic fate when his unit came in contact with enemy forces in Iraq. In honor of this fallen American hero, it is fitting and appropriate that we recognize the ultimate sacrifice that he made for his country.

He was raised in Rome City, Indiana. Specialist Hartge was profoundly affected by the 9/11 attacks on the United States. It was then that he decided that he wanted to, more than anything else, serve his country. Before graduating from East Noble High School, he enlisted in the Army. Just 1 week after graduation, he left for boot camp at Fort Benning.

In August 2006, he was deployed to Iraq, where he and his unit patrolled the difficult streets of the city. Risking his life every day, he served as a driver and a radio/telephone operator. Although he was one of the younger members of his unit, he distinguished himself as hard working, a good soldier, and the type of person his comrades could always count on. He believed in what he was fighting for. He believed and felt that they were really helping the people of Iraq.

While he was only 20 years old, he aspired to do something special with his life. And, indeed, when we think about it, he did. He became a positive role model for those around him and those he surrounded himself with. He once told his fellow soldiers that ``the Army doesn't give you values; it develops values that you already had from your parents.'' That's so true.

He is survived now by his parents, a sister and brother--a fellow soldier. Yes, this fine young man embodied the values and the passions of this great Nation. Sadly, he paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve those freedoms for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, as I come to the floor and speak about this fallen soldier, I'm mindful of the fact that I was here only literally several weeks ago, submitting a similar resolution for a young man about the equal age, back from our district, from the Fifth Congressional District of the State of New Jersey. Likewise, in these circumstances we saw the outpouring of support from the people of his community on the day that he was returned once and for all to his final resting place in his hometown. At that time, members of his fire department, the mayor and council and, more importantly, the entire community came out and recognized him.

It was at that point we realized that it's a day to remember these fallen soldiers when they do come back. But that day is a fleeting day. Even when you talk to the parents of the soldiers at those funerals and the services, they don't really even remember it, in some ways. A week later, it was such a blur, just a fast passing, and all the commotion that went on that day. It was hard to remember who was there.

So I'm sure, like the speaker on the other side of the aisle and all the Members on the other side of the aisle agree, it's for this reason we come to the floor today and name the post office for Specialist Hartge, because we don't want to just make it a 1-day event. We don't want it to be an incident where the community comes out and pays respect at the church service and graveside. We don't want it to be a time that is in passing. We want to have something there in the community that, day in and day out, members of his family, other members of the community that he grew up with, his boyhood friends and the like, will able to see his name on post office.

We also want to have something in the community that, days in the future, when future generations grow up, kids that he grew up with have grown up and gotten married and have children themselves and they come back to town, that they will see Specialist Hartge's name up there on the post office.

Maybe they will ask their parents, Who was that Specialist? Who was that name? Who was that soldier? And there will be people still around in the community who say, I remember him when

he grew up here. I remember what he did for the town. I remember him going through the high school in the days there, and the friends that he had there. I remember him for the love that he had for his family, his brother and his sister, and for everyone else here. I remember him also for the sacrifice that he made for this country overseas.

So in that respect a little bit of him will be remembered for this generation and his posterity as well. So I thank the gentleman for moving this piece of legislation in a bipartisan manner so that a piece of him will be remembered for posterity.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge served in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Nicholas grew up in the small town of Rome City, Indiana were he was deeply involved with his community. He was extremely patriotic and was moved by the events of September 11th to do something special. He decided to serve his country and enlisted in the army during his senior year of high school. His mother, Lori, has often described that on the day he came home seeking her permission to join, Nicholas was so determined that a freight train could not stop him. Just one week after graduation, he left for boot camp at Fort Benning, GA. He could have taken many paths, but chose to serve in the infantry.

In August, 2006, Nicholas and his unit were deployed to Iraq where they had the difficult task of patrolling the streets of Adhamiyah. Every day his unit risked their lives, constantly under pressure, never knowing who their enemy was. Though he was one of the younger members, Nicholas quickly earned the respect of his fellow soldiers. They described him as having a Midwest innocence, and even teased him good naturedly for being such a straight-laced young man. All were impressed by his dedication and drive to succeed--noticing how he would practice new tasks endlessly until he mastered them.

He had a goal to attend West Point, and worked with his commanding officer to prepare for the process. However, when an opportunity was presented to him to join a prep school that could have led to the academy, Nicholas decided he could not leave his unit and chose to stay and finish his combat tour. On May 14, 2007, his patrol came under heavy attack. Nicholas was killed in combat when his humvee hit a roadside bomb, while maneuvering under intense fire.

He always maintained deep roots in his community and was very proud of his hometown. When on a two-week leave from Iraq, Nicholas took time to visit classes and talk with students at the Rome City Elementary and Middle School. In the summer of 2009, the school renamed their annual spirit award as the ``Nicholas Scott Hartge Spirit Award.'' Nicholas had previously received the honor when he was in 8th grade.

SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge received a Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement in the capture of Abu Hassan, and a bronze star for his actions on the day he was killed. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Lori and Dave Abbott of Rome City; father Scott Roger Hartge of Delaware, OH; sisters Elise Hartge of Rome City and Jennifer (Scott) Wheeler of Fort Wayne; brothers Ryan Abbott of Camp Humphreys, Korea and Justin Abbott of Auburn; maternal grandmother Janet Hines of Orlando; paternal grandfathers Roger Hartge of New Carlisle, OH, Frank Robey of VanWert, OH; grandmother Marjorie Abbott of Fort Wayne and many nieces and nephews.

Renaming the Rome City Post Office in his honor is just a small gesture to recognize the contributions of a young man and his family who sacrificed so much for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4624) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 4624. This legislation will designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office.'' Army Specialist Nicholas Hartge was raised in the small town of Rome City, in northeastern Indiana. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Specialist Hartge enlisted in the infantry while still in high school and was stationed in Germany before deploying to Iraq.

On May 14, 2007, Specialist Hartge's patrol came under heavy attack. He was killed in combat when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb while maneuvering under intense fire.

For his service to his country, Specialist Hartge received a Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement for helping to capture the enemy in Iraq, and a Bronze Star for his actions on the day he was killed. He is missed by his family, his community, and his country. Our Nation owes a great debt of gratitude for his service.

H.R. 4624 was introduced by the gentleman from Indiana, Representative Mark Souder, on February 9, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which approved it by unanimous consent on March 4, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of the entire Indiana delegation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his kind words about Specialist Hartge. Also, Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage my friends from both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting H.R. 4624.

I yield back the balance of my time.