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HONORING ARMY VETERAN AND WOUNDED WARRIOR ALEXANDER LOFGREN
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HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a friend, not only to myself, but to his colleagues and to this country. I rise today to honor United States Army veteran, Alexander Lofgren. Alex served the veteran community on behalf of my office in Arizona's Third Congressional District. Born March 10, 1989 in Exeter, California, he spent many years of his life traveling and living in different states as his father served in the military. Alex followed in his father's footsteps and joined the military in 2011. He served as a Combat Engineer in the Army and only months after he joined, he was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. During his service in the Army he lost 4 friends, who we also honor today. SFC Bobby L. Estle, PFC Jose O. Belmontes, 2LT David E. Rylander, and SPC Junot M. L. Cochilus.
After being honorably, medically discharged in October 2014, Alex began his studies at Arizona State University. He graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Anthropology. Shortly after graduating, he worked at the Crisis Response Network where he did case management answering calls of veterans in crisis and helping them with immediate crisis intervention. He later served on then-Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema's Veteran's Advisory Council and Legislative Committee. In July 2019, Alex joined our District office in Tucson, AZ through the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program. Alex worked as a constituent services representative helping local constituents resolve issues with federal agencies, serving as a liaison to local Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), and attending local events and meetings on behalf of my office.
Alex loved his plants, enjoyed nature, golf, greenhouses, cooking, and local coffee and donut shops. He was an avid photographer and always on an adventure that often included enjoying time with his partner, Emily, and their dogs, Gunner, Jane, and Nora. Alex had visited over 20 national parks. He was passionate about using outdoor activities as a means of helping other veterans and embraced the activities and serenity nature had to offer. Tragically he passed away on April 4, 2021 in a visit to Death Valley National Park.
We find comfort in knowing that Alex spent his last days doing what he enjoyed alongside a person he loved. We have no doubt that his heroic actions during the hike that ended so tragically helped keep his partner, Emily, alive until search and rescue brought her to safety.
I want to thank the community from Tucson and beyond for the outpouring of support during these difficult months, as well as the National Park Service and other federal and local partners who deployed every available resource to locate Alex and Emily. To know Alex was to know someone who had boundless energy for life and who was focused on making a difference in the lives of others. His loss has left a void in the hearts of his colleagues and his family. He will forever be a part of our family, and my heart is with his parents, Joe and Ruth, and his loving partner Emily. Our Nation has lost a hero. I am thankful to have known Alexander Lofgren.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 105
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