{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bost.house.gov/2024/7/bost-bill-woild-rename-millstadt-post-office-after-fallen-marine", "BOST BILL WOULD RENAME MILLSTADT POST OFFICE AFTER FALLEN MARINE", "2024-07-10", "2024", "2024-07", "Republican", "House", "IL", "Mike Bost", "B001295", "bost.house.gov", "bost", "https://bost.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today introduced legislation renaming the U.S. Post Office located at 20 W. White Street in Millstadt after Marine Cpl. Matthew A. Wyatt. Wyatt, a Millstadt native, was killed stopping a suicide bomber\u2019s truck packed with 600 pounds of explosives at the gates of his Forward Operating Base in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on December 3, 2004.The 21-year-old was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.\n\n\u201cSouthern Illinois was blessed to call Matthew Wyatt a native son,\u201d said Bost. \u201cAs a Marine, I am grateful for his service and in awe of the selflessness he displayed in putting the safety of his fellow servicemembers first. But as a father and a grandfather, it tears me apart thinking of a lifetime of birthdays lost and milestones missed. I hope that the small gesture of naming Matt\u2019s hometown post office in his honor will help keep his legacy alive for generations to come.\u201d\n\nBost\u2019s remarks, as prepared, for his floor speech today honoring Cpl. Matthew Wyatt are below:\n\n\u201cMr. Speaker,\n\n\u201cI rise today to honor the memory of a fallen hero: Corporal Matthew Wyatt of Millstadt, Illinois.\n\n\u201cMatt was a Marine serving in Iraq\u2019s Al Anbar Province when a suicide bomber approached his base in a truck loaded with explosives.\n\n\u201cMatt and another Marine took quick action to stop the attempted breach. An explosion killed both servicemen instantly. Matt was just one week from his 22nd birthday.\n\n\u201cMatt\u2019s commitment to military service came from his father, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Alan Wyatt, and two grandfathers \u2013 one Army and one Navy. He enlisted during his senior year at Belleville West High School. When his mother, Verlene, asked if he was willing to go to war, without hesitation, Matt said, \u2018yes.\u2019\n\n\u201cMatt cared deeply for those he served with \u2013 so much so that he gave his life protecting them. For his bravery, Matt was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. His commanding officer personally traveled to Millstadt to present the family with his medals.\n\n\u201cTo honor his sacrifice, today I am introducing legislation to rename the United States Post Office in Millstadt in his name. I thank all the members of the Illinois delegation \u2013 Republicans and Democrats \u2013 for cosponsoring the bill. I thank my colleague from North Carolina, Representative Manning, for cosponsoring as well. This is a small but meaningful tribute to a small-town Southern Illinoisan who made a big difference for his country.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been nearly 20 years since the world lost Matthew Wyatt, but his legacy burns bright.\n\n\u201cIn a local news interview conducted years after his loss, Matt\u2019s father, Alan \u2013 the Marine Gunnery Sgt. \u2013 said, \u2018I do think of him every day. I still love and miss you, son.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a love that also carries on in the hearts of his mom, Verlene; stepmom, Lauren; grandmother, Millie; aunt and uncles; numerous cousins; and dear friends.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s been said that one of life\u2019s greatest gifts is to be remembered. Corporal Matthew Wyatt, you are remembered. And that\u2019s never going to change.\n\n\u201cSemper Fi, Marine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bost.house.gov/2024/7/bost-bill-woild-rename-millstadt-post-office-after-fallen-marine"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9347926825284958, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}