Representative Trent Kelly

August 12, 2021

Dear Friend,

I am pleased to announce that H.R. 208 has been signed into law. This legislation will name the U.S. Post Office on West Main Street in Tupelo the "Colonel Carlyle 'Smitty' Harris Post Office." Colonel Harris was held as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam for just under eight years, enduring starvation, solitude, and torture. Despite dire living conditions, Col. Harris introduced the tap code to this fellow POWs to secretly communicate between cells.

During his time in captivity, letters he wrote to his wife, Louise, were delivered to the Tupelo Post Office. I am thankful for the support from members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in this endeavor to honor Col. Harris for his service and the many sacrifices he and his family made in the name of freedom.

on the radio

I joined SuperTalk Mississippi's The Paul Gallo Show to provide an update on the numerous issues we are addressing in Washington, D.C. Please click on the links to watch segments one and two.

gold star children's day

On August 1, America recognized Gold Star Children's Day for the first time. It was an honor to join Representatives Young Kim and Tim Ryan in the introduction of the resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. Our shared goal was to honor the children of service members killed in the line of duty. A resolution passed in the U.S. Senate that was introduced by Senators Roger Wicker and Joe Manchin.

Diane Moore, a Gold Star child, and fellow Mississippian, is the daughter of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Thomas Moore. He served with the 6250th Support Squadron during the Vietnam War. On October 31, 1965, CMSgt Moore and three other service members were captured. CMSgt Moore remains unaccounted for and is listed as a POW-MIA. Diane has long advocated for Gold Star children, and we are pleased that she and others will be recognized for their sacrifice in the name of freedom.