{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lance.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lance-bill-names-raritan-post-office-for-john-basilone", "Lance Bill Names Raritan Post Office for John Basilone", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Leonard Lance", "L000567", "lance.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today secured passage in the U.S. House of his legislation, H.R. 2815, that would designate the U.S. Post Office at 30 East Street in Raritan, New Jersey, as the \"Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Post Office.\"\u00a0 In a speech before colleagues in the House of Representatives, Lance recounted the many honors Basilone earned in service to the country and asked the House to support his measure so as to inspire future service in Basilone\u2019s tradition.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cGunnery Sergeant Basilone is an exemplar of brave service in our Armed Forces and a member of the greatest generation whose collective bravery and selflessness won World War II and liberated millions from oppression,\u201d Lance told his colleagues on the House Floor.\u00a0 \u201cIn Congress, there are many actions we take to honor and remember those who serve our Nation.\u00a0 These commendations matter.\u00a0 Younger generations ask whose name is inscribed in monuments, at flag posts or on federal properties.\u00a0 And in retelling these stories we inspire young Americans to appreciate the generations that came before in public service.\u00a0 And Gunnery Sergeant Basilone indeed has a tremendous story.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nLance then recounted details from Basilone\u2019s life.\u00a0 Lance told the story of Basilone\u2019s decision first to enlist in the Army and later his enlistment in the Marine Corps.\u00a0 Lance recited the details of Operation Watchtower, where Basilone and his fellow Marines sought to regain territory in Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater.\u00a0 And Lance recounted the specific citations that earned Basilone the Medal of Honor.\nSaid Lance, \u201cIn a moment of selfless service to his fellow Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone endured brutal enemy fire during the assault to assist nearby machine gunners in trouble.\u00a0 Seeing the immediate danger, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone killed eight encroaching Japanese soldiers and quickly provided aid and equipment to the pinned Marines.\u00a0 He saved many lives that day and in later testimony his fellow Marines credited Gunnery Sergeant Basilone\u2019s gallantry and heroic conduct for saving their lives \u2013 actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor in recognition of his actions at Guadalcanal.\u201d\nLance also spoke of the tour of duty where Basilone lost his life and posthumously earned the Navy Cross.\u00a0 \u201cGunnery Sergeant Basilone and his men stormed the shores of Iwo Jima with the first wave of Marines on February 19, 1945.\u00a0 The Japanese returned heavy fire.\u00a0 Gunnery Sergeant Basilone ran toward one of the blockhouses- the source of Japanese fire- and quickly destroyed it with grenades and demolitions.\u00a0 After this, he scrambled to rescue an American tank that was trapped in a minefield.\u00a0 But in a moment that will forever live on in our hearts, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone and a handful of his fellow Marines were then hit by heavy mortar fire.\u00a0 He died alongside the brave men who stepped forward to serve this country and the men who he wanted to return to battle to protect and defend.\u201d\nBasilone was the only Marine of World War II to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.\nJoining Lance for the debate on the bill was Kim Van Note, Basilone\u2019s niece and a leader in the Basilone Foundation.\u00a0 Van Note said, \u201cI would like to thank everyone who was involved in the process of renaming the Raritan Post Office after my uncle, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone. The renaming of this Post Office will stand as a testament, and as a monument to the ultimate sacrifice my uncle and so many other American soldiers have made. I am grateful that so many were involved, especially Congressman Lance, with honoring and recognizing the service of my uncle to his country, it is my hope that others will look upon the newly renamed Raritan Post Office and be inspired to serve their country as loyally and faithfully as my uncle, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone.\u201d\nThe measure now heads to the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://lance.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lance-bill-names-raritan-post-office-for-john-basilone"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4468720182776451, "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"}