[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E807] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING THE LIFE OF SEAMAN 1ST CLASS EDWARD SLAPIKAS ______ HON. LOU BARLETTA of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Friday, June 8, 2018 Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the life and legacy of Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas, who has finally come home to rest almost 80 years after his heroic passing. Seaman Slapikas was tragically killed in action at the age of 24 while serving aboard the USS Oklahoma. He was one of 429 crewmen who perished on December 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Seaman Slapikas was interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where his name was marked as ``unidentified'' on the Walls of the Missing. Now, 77 years later, Seaman Slapikas' remains have been identified thanks to the combined efforts of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPPA) and Seaman Slapikas' surviving family members. Since 2015, the DPPA has provided closure to over 120 families of fallen servicemen killed aboard the USS Oklahoma. The return of Seaman Slapikas marks a momentous occasion, not only for the Slapikas family, but also for the community of Wanamie, Pennsylvania. The bravery of Seaman Slapikas was commemorated through the establishment of the American Legion Post 971, named for Seaman Slapikas and Petty Officer Keith Jeffries, a fellow serviceman who perished aboard the USS Arizona during the same attack. Seaman Slapikas' niece, Ms. Leona Hotko, plans to ensure that her ``favorite uncle'' is laid to rest near his childhood home in St. Mary's Cemetery in Wanamie. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the heroic life of Seaman 1st Class Edward Slapikas, and posthumously thanking him for his service to our great nation. ____________________