Darrell Issa: “I want to comment just briefly, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, Lance Corporal Phillip…”

“I want to comment just briefly, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, Lance Corporal Phillip Vinnedge is among the very first postal namings of the year. No other postal namings have occurred this entire Congress except these we are considering today for our fallen heroes. It has become clear that the public understands the importance of honoring those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and so we do so today on behalf of the several fallen heroes. This particular lance corporal, in addition to being from Missouri, deployed from Camp Pendleton in my district with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, a unit that has seen as a percentage the greatest amount of losses of any unit in the theater of Afghanistan or Iraq. The sacrifice of our marines in this conflict in Afghanistan with not a single body of water anywhere around it says a great deal about the new marines. When Lance Corporal Vinnedge enlisted, he knew he was joining a force that wasn't waiting for a war in amphibious landing craft, but that in fact had already been and had fought with great distinction in Afghanistan, in addition to Iraq. He went there to serve his country, and he paid the highest cost. That is far too often what is happening around the world.…”