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From: Taylor, Josh [mailto:Josh.Taylor@...]
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 5:00 AM
Subject: Edwards: Children of Fallen Heroes Will Receive "Fry" College
Scholarship, Provision Added to War Funding Bill Covers Full Cost of College
Education for All Surviving Military Children











News from Congressman


Chet Edwards


Chairman, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Room H-143 The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3047

17th District, Texas * 2369 Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202)
225-6105

Homepage: www.house.gov/edwards





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Taylor

June 12, 2009
(202) 225-6105



Edwards: Children of Fallen Heroes Will Receive "Fry" College Scholarship

Provision Added to War Funding Bill Covers Full Cost of College Education
for All Surviving Military Children



(Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Chet Edwards
<http://www.edwards.house.gov/> announced that he has included a provision
to expand GI Bill benefits to children of fallen U.S. soldiers in the final
2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill, which funds U.S. military operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq. The provision, authored by Edwards as a member of
the conference committee, expands the current GI Bill education benefit to
cover the full cost of a college education for all children of fallen
soldiers. The new benefit will be known as the "Marine Gunnery Sergeant John
David Fry" scholarship in honor of a fallen soldier with three young
children from Edwards' district.



"Nothing can make up for the loss of a parent, but the least we can do is
ensure that the children of our fallen heroes can go to college if they
choose," said Edwards, Chairman of the House Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. "No one has sacrificed more
than the military child who has lost a parent."



Under the current GI bill, a beneficiary can transfer his or her benefits to
only one dependent, and must serve 6 years with an additional 4 year
commitment. Edwards' provision extends the benefit to each dependent child
and does not impose a minimum of military service to qualify.



"If a parent gives their life in service to country, their surviving family
members shouldn't be forced to choose which child gets to go to college,"
said Edwards.



One such parent was Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry, of Lorena,
Texas, a dedicated soldier who saved countless lives by disarming numerous
bombs, including one of the largest car bombs found in Fallujah. On March 8,
2006, after being cleared to return home, Sergeant Fry volunteered to defuse
one more explosive device in Anbar province, Iraq. He found three bombs that
night and defused all of them, but the fourth took his life. As one of
Edwards' constituents, the congressman met Fry's three small children,
Kathryn, Gideon, and C.L at events honoring their father's life beginning
with a Veterans Day memorial in 2007. Edwards was deeply moved by the depth
of their sacrifice, and was inspired to author the legislation.



"Sergeant Fry wasn't the only one to sacrifice for his country that night.
His three children lost their loving father and his wife lost her husband,"
said Edwards. "Having represented Fort Hood for 14 of my 18 years in
Congress, I have seen firsthand the sacrifice of our military families, who
are truly the unsung heroes of our nation's defense."



The bill is expected to be approved by the House and Senate next week and
sent to the president for his signature.





How "Fry" Scholarship Expands GI Bill Benefits to All Children of Fallen
Heroes



* Amends the 9-11 GI Bill, so that children of those who have died on
active duty since 9-11-01 qualify for the education benefit.
* Under the current GI bill, a beneficiary can transfer his or her
benefits to only one dependent, and must serve 6 years with an additional 4
year enlistment to be allowed to transfer the benefits. Under the Fry
scholarship, all children of military killed while on active duty qualify no
matter the length of their parents' service.
* All children of fallen soldiers are eligible to receive maximum
benefit under GI Bill immediately. No minimum of time in service required to
become eligible. Current beneficiaries must serve 3 years in order to
receive a full benefit.
* Benefit expires 15 years after 18th birthday of children.



Current Post-9/11 GI Bill Provisions Now Extended to All Children of Fallen
Heroes



* Covers tuition and fees of up to the maximum in-state tuition and
fees at a public institution in your state;
* A monthly housing allowance at the location of the school, based on
the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents; and
* An annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000.



Background on Marine Gunner Sergeant John David Fry:



Born in Lorena in 1977, John David Fry joined the Marines to serve his
country at the age of 18. At the time, the Marines were looking for a few
good men. In him they found the best of the best. Sergeant Fry chose to
become an explosive ordinance disposal technician, an EOD, to protect the
lives of his fellow Marines.



In September of 2005, Sergeant Fry was deployed to Iraq with the 8th
Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine
Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While in Iraq,
Sergeant Fry saved countless lives by rendering safe numerous bombs,
including one of the largest car bombs found in Fallujah. He once went into
a home to find a bomb strapped to a mentally retarded young Iraqi boy, who
had been beaten and chained to a wall. Sgt. Fry, the father of three young
children, risked his life to save the life of someone else's child in a
foreign land. That is the kind of person he was.



Sergeant Fry turned down a Bronze Star and a ticket out of Iraq after a
serious wound. He said he just wanted to do what he was supposed to do. He
was proud to be a Marine and proud to serve his country. Seven short days
before this 28-year-old Marine was to be sent back home to his family, he
volunteered, when he didn't have to, to defuse one more explosive device,
this time in Al Anbar province. Sergeant Fry found three bombs that night
and defused all of them, but the insurgents had hidden a fourth bomb. It
exploded and this brave Marine who had saved so many lives, finally gave his
own life.



Sergeant Fry wasn't the only one to sacrifice for his country that night.
His mother lost a son. His wife lost her husband, and his three children
lost their loving father. Only the heart can measure the depth of that kind
of sacrifice. Sergeant Fry's widow Beth, and his children, Malia, Kathryn,
Gideon and C.L., might not have worn our nation's uniform, but they have
surely served our country through their deep, personal sacrifice.



This legislation not only honors the sacrifice of fallen heroes, it honors
the sacrifice of their surviving children.



Edwards co-chairs the House Army Caucus, and serves as the Chairman of the
House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Subcommittee.

-30-





Joshua P. Taylor
Communications Director
Office of U.S. Representative Chet Edwards
2369 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-6105
Please <http://edwards.house.gov/html/signup.cfm> click here to sign up for
Chet's newsletter.





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