Army Ssg Ryan Christian Knauss Memorial Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, today, as we talk about the Seminole, Florida, post office, I would like to take a moment to honor Staff Sergeant Knauss' life and service to our country.

On August 26, 2021, Staff Sergeant Knauss volunteered to serve during the humanitarian evacuation mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the Hamid Karzai International Airport Abbey Gate. While performing his duties, a bomb was detonated at the Abbey Gate, killing Staff Sergeant Knauss, 12 other servicemembers, and many civilians.

Staff Sergeant Knauss bravely served our country, earning many awards and decorations, including the Congressional Gold Medal, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Staff Sergeant Knauss has continued to have a lasting impact in communities across the country. In his hometown of Corryton, Tennessee, an annual merit scholarship at a local high school has been established in Staff Sergeant Knauss' name. The merit scholarship helps to support a JROTC candidate showing the same leadership and willingness to enter the military after high school as Staff Sergeant Knauss did. His family plans to duplicate the scholarship in communities across the country.

Specific to Florida, Staff Sergeant Knauss' lasting impact can be seen through community celebrations and honor rides recognizing the military heroes of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. His family also plans to organize an annual Seminole Park Veteran 5K run with a motorcycle and jeep ride through Seminole each Veterans Day. They are also working to raise awareness within the community of how to get involved in sending active military care packages overseas and are seeking to provide services for homeless veterans reluctant to go to VA facilities. They are also looking to partner with local Florida charter boats and captains to provide veterans with an opportunity to fish and build connections with one another to help lower suicide rates in the Tampa Bay area and across the State of Florida.

Renaming the Seminole Post Office after Staff Sergeant Ryan Christian Knauss would serve as a reminder of his life, service, and the impact he continues to have on local students and veterans each day.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge my constituent and Staff Sergeant Ryan Christian Knauss' mother, Paula, who is here with us today. Thank you, Paula, for supporting all of this and for the sacrifice that your family has made.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this renaming bill.

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