Recognizing Congressional Patriot Award Recipient Bryan McNeal

Floor Speech

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Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bryan McNeal of Rockwall, Texas, and present him with the Congressional Patriot Award. Bryan has dedicated himself to faithfully serving our community and country.

Bryan was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up near White Rock Lake. His passion for sports and leading his team to victory inspired him to pursue an opportunity to serve our country. After attending college for one year, Bryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1991. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, where he helped develop a program to track the status of military investigations and court martials. In recognition of his important work and efforts, Bryan was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. Moreover, Bryan served as a volunteer firefighter in Hubert, North Carolina. During this time, he helped save a family from a house fire and assisted the North Carolina Forest Service in protecting a neighborhood from wildfire. As a result, Bryan became one of the first Marines to receive the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for his dedication to service beyond the Marine Corps.

When he retired from the Marines as a Gunnery Sergeant, Bryan continued to be an active member of our community. He helped raised over $500,000 for veterans' causes to help disabled veterans purchase prosthetics. With his help, one disabled Marine was even able to complete a 5k run with a new pair of motorized legs. Additionally, Bryan served as the Toys for Tots Coordinator for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he led efforts to provide gifts to underprivileged children during the holiday season. I am proud of the work Bryan has accomplished, and I am certain he will continue to make a positive impact on our community for many years to come.

It is an honor to bestow Bryan with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to our Nation and the people of North Texas.

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