To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attack on Arkansas troops stationed in Little Rock, a wreath was laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery today.  On June 1, 2009, Army Private William Long and Private Quinton Ezeagwula were shot outside the Army Navy Career Center in Little Rock. Private Long was killed and Private Ezeagwula was wounded.  They were shot by an American Muslim convert, Abdulhakim Muhammad, who told authorities his goal was to kill as many soldiers as possible.  Their attacker was a terrorist that claimed Al-Qaeda connections.

The murder of Private Long was an act of domestic terrorism but the federal government failed to prosecute Muhammad as a terrorist. In an interview with Little Rock’s KATV Private Long’s father said, “They weren’t on the battlefield; but apparently, the battlefield’s here.” Private Long was deliberately targeted for serving his country, and as such he deserves all the respect and honor that entails. That is why in 2013, Senator Pryor and I introduced the “Honoring Ezeagwula and Long (HEAL) Act.” This would allow Private Long and Private Ezeagwula to be eligible for the Purple Heart. Congressman Griffin (AR-2) also introduced similar legislation in the House. Though the current administration opposes recognizing this tragedy as an act of war, we owe it to these brave Arkansans to honor their sacrifice.