The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING BUILDER NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER RAYMOND BORDER
______
HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 11, 2022
Mr. PALAZZO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the official renaming of the Gulfport Fitness Center in honor of Builder Chief Petty Officer Raymond Border.
Raymond Border was born on July 22, 1980, in Coshocton, Ohio. He enlisted in the Navy on September 22, 1999. Upon completion of Builder A-school Gulfport, MS BUC Border completed successful tours deploying twice with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE. His daughter, Shelva Border and son Donavan Border currently still live in Gulfport. His father Craig Border and mother Julie Border live in West Lafayette, Ohio.
A few months after returning home from deployment in 2011 to Afghanistan's Helmand Province with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 BUC Border volunteered for an Individual Augmentee billet on a Provincial Reconstruction Team and returned to Afghanistan, where he lost his life in the line of duty.
For his outstanding service, BUC Border was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star (with combat V), Purple Heart, and Combat Action Ribbon. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal during his previous naval service.
Traditionally Seabee facilities are named after Seabees that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. BUC Border was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was executing a road assessment for a convoy in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, on October 19, 2011.
BUC Border perfectly embodies what it means to be a true American hero and I can think of no better fit than BUC Raymond J. Border the first Seabee, and first Chief Petty Officer from the Seabee Fleet Concentration Area in Gulfport to receive this distinct honor.
His memory proudly represents all Seabees that deployed to Afghanistan and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Our military servicemembers deserve to be recognized for their commitment to our great nation and I am grateful for his unwavering dedication to our country. The naming of the Fitness Center will allow the Seabees to be able to permanently remember and honor one of their fallen Seabees and Chief Petty Officers.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 28
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up