[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SALUTE TO HOMETOWN HEROES

                                 ______


                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 1995

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gerri 
Schmidt and Robin Dorman of Branford, CT for their truly heroic effort 
to save the lives of three small children from a fire last Wednesday. 
These women displayed inspiring selflessness in aiding their neighbors 
and dousing the flames that engulfed a local condominium.
  According to the authorities with the Branford Fire Department, three 
children aged 5, 3, and 14 months are alive and well today because of 
these two fine women. Careless playing with matches by one of the 
children is said to have caused the blaze.
  Yesterday, as Gerri Schmidt walked her dog and Robin Dorman backed 
her car out of the drive, an elderly woman raced from a condominium on 
Watch Hill Road, screaming, ``Fire! Fire!'' Schmidt and Dorman ran to 
the woman who told them of the children trapped by the fire inside the 
building.
  Not thinking of themselves, these women raced inside. There Schmidt 
found the five-year-old and the three-year-old in a bedroom and the 14-
month-old in a hallway and carried them outside to safety. Dorman, 
meanwhile, ran up the stairs through heavy smoke and beat back the 
flames with a blanket. By the time the firefighters arrived on the 
scene, the children were safe and the flames were nearly extinguished.
  Real life heroes are all too rare in this day and age. Gerri Schmidt 
and Robin Dorman have earned our praise, our thanks, our admiration and 
our acknowledgement, and I want to recognize them for their bravery.
  Webster's Dictionary defines heroism as ``fulfilling high purpose or 
attaining a noble end.'' On behalf of the House of Representatives, I 
would like to extend my praise of Gerri Schmidt and Robin Dorman who 
truly define heroism. Thanks to our hometown heroes.

                          ____________________