[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA'S UNSUNG HEROES

                                 ______


                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, during his State of the Union Address this 
week, President Clinton recognized one of the heroes from last year's 
bombing in Oklahoma City. I believe this was a tradition begun by 
former President Reagan but regardless who started it, it is a practice 
which has great merit.
  For all across America, there are countless unsung heroes--men and 
women, boys and girls--who rise to whatever occasion is necessary to 
lend a helping hand to one of their fellow citizens.
  Such was the case in the early morning hours of New Year's day in the 
city of Robertsdale, AL. Then, one of my constituents, Mr. Floyd Smith, 
saw that his neighbor's house trailer was engulfed in flames and 
without regard for his own safety, rushed in to save the lives of this 
family.
  If it were not for Mr. Smith, George and Doris Hammock, and their 
grandson, Adam, would no longer be with us today.
  Clearly, Floyd Smith didn't wake up intending to be a hero that day. 
Like most Americans, he probably had other things on his mind on this 
first day of the new year.
  But when he saw his neighbors were at risk, he raced over to try to 
awake the Hammocks by beating on the walls of their trailer. Then he 
helped the family escape the burning home through the window.
  Once the Robertsdale Fire Department arrived, it took 45 minutes to 
totally extinguish out the fire. The Hammocks lost everything--their 
home, their clothes, their possessions--but thanks to Floyd Smith, they 
didn't lose the one thing which is truly irreplaceable--their lives.
  Just like so many other heroes, Floyd Smith deserves to be recognized 
for his outstanding act of bravery. He put the life and well-being of 
others above his own. And he did so not because it was politically 
popular, but because it was the right thing to do.
  Mr. Smith is truly an American hero and he deserves to be praised for 
his outstanding acts. Everyone can learn from his example and because 
of it, the Hammocks now have an opportunity to live out their New 
Year's resolutions with many more to come.
  On behalf of the people of south Alabama, I salute Mr. Floyd Smith, 
and ask that a copy of this statement be entered into the Congressional 
Record.

                          ____________________