To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the "John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 960, to rename the North Avondale Post Office in Ohio after Herbert Heilbrun and Johnny Leahr, two American heroes whose legacies we should pass down

from generation to generation and whose examples we should all follow.

At a time when our military was segregated, Herb and Johnny independently joined our armed services as specialty pilots flying dangerous missions. Herb flew B-17 bombers in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and Johnny flew P-51 Mustangs with the Tuskegee Airmen.

At that time, they did not know each other. Both men returned from the war and lived honorable and successful lives independent of each other.

Some 50 years after the war, Herb attended a Tuskegee reunion because he wanted to go and thank the brave men who flew cover missions for him and quite literally had his back. It was there that he met Johnny, and the two started to realize just how much they had in common and how much racial segregation kept them from realizing it.

Astonishingly, they discovered they had flown some of the same missions during the war. Johnny had flown cover on two of Herb's missions in France and Poland, yet they had never met. As they spoke, they realized that they were both from Cincinnati, Ohio, and even more amazingly, they had even been classmates at the same elementary school in North Avondale, Ohio. The reunion was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would make our world a better place.

As best friends, Herb and Johnny decided that younger generations should learn from their experiences and from their friendship. The two traveled the country, giving talks about racial tolerance, respect, and friendship. Over the years, they spoke to countless audiences and were honored by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations for their efforts.

Their work led to a book that they wrote together called ``Black and White Airmen: Their True History.'' It was written about them, and it chronicles their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others together to overcome their divides. Their book also contains a grade school class photo with Johnny standing right beside Herb. Even then, he had his back.

To honor their legacy and to continue their mission, I have introduced this bill with Congressman Steve Chabot to rename the post office at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati the John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office. The building is located in the neighborhood in which the two men went to school together.

Johnny and Herb share an incredible history and should serve as models to all of us. They were dedicated to their country and fellow servicemen, no matter their race or background. Renaming this post office after them will honor their legacy and ensure that more Americans will learn of their story, learn of their sacrifice, and learn from their example.

Herb passed away in December at the age of 100, joining Johnny, who passed in 2015 at the age of 94. They are now together in eternal glory.

Herb's beloved wife, Carol, said it best when describing Herb and Johnny as ``incredible men who lived incredible lives not only in service to their country, but also in the lessons they taught us later in life about friendship, respect, and tolerance.''

Johnny's son, John W. Leahr, poignantly noted that his father ``decided early on that he wasn't going to live a life full of hate or bitterness, despite the many injustices he had to endure throughout his life'' and that his father's friendship and efforts with Herb should ``serve as the gold standard of honor, respect, and kindness for us all.''

I am so honored to have spent time and developed friendships with both of these great American heroes and their families. I am incredibly grateful for their service and will never forget their dedication to our country and to the American people. We are made better by the example they set for us, a legacy to be very proud of.

God bless Herbert Heilbrun and Johnny Leahr, and may they rest in peace. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to honor two great human beings and true American heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 960) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the ``John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 960, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office.

World War II veterans John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun served as pilots in the Army Air Corps. Mr. Leahr served as a Mustang pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen, and Mr. Heilbrun served as a B-17 bomber pilot.

Throughout World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were tasked with escorting American bomber groups flying over enemy territory. Mr. Heilbrun's group was one of the few who sustained no losses, due to the heroic efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Fifty years after the war, Herb Heilbrun met John Leahr when he attended an annual meeting of the Tuskegee Airmen to express his gratitude for their protection and service to his group during the war. At that meeting, they learned that they had flown some of the same missions in Europe and that they shared numerous other traits as well.

Mr. Leahr and Mr. Heilbrun dedicated their later years to promoting interracial understanding and unity. They were honored for their book, ``Black and White Airmen: Their True History,'' by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. Their work chronicles their history, friendship, and efforts to bring others together to overcome racial differences.

Mr. Leahr passed away on March 27, 2015, at the age of 94. And Mr. Heilbrun passed away at age 100 on December 18, 2020.

Renaming a post office for both of these men jointly is a fitting remembrance of their work to create unity and understanding. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Kansas has no further speakers, then I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 960, and I want to compliment my colleague and friend, Mr. Wenstrup, on his bill. It is a very inspiring story. I intend to read their book, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would name an Ohio post office for World War II veterans John Leahr and Herbert Heilbrun.

The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II were tasked with escorting American bomber groups flying over enemy territory. I strongly support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 163, H.R. 2044; Calendar No. 164, H.R. 3419; Calendar No. 188, H.R. 3210; and Calendar No. 262, H.R. 960.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills, en bloc, be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.