[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO RAY LUJAN

                                 ______


                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 22, 1996, a happy outing 
at the beach ended in tragedy and grief for a father and his two young 
sons. The father, a surfing enthusiast, brought along his sons, aged 3 
and 5, to Talofofo Bay, one of the most popular surfing spots in my 
home district, Guam. Since the water was rough that day, many surfers 
were drawn to the bay. The two boys played at the water's edge while 
the father challenged the waves on his surfboard.
  Sometime after lunch, several people noticed that the two boys were 
gone. Their father was still surfing, but the boys were nowhere in 
sight. Word soon spread along the beach that two small boys were 
missing, and a search began. Police and Fire Rescue were called, and 
the search widened. At approximately 2 p.m. the 3-year-old was found 
floating face down in the water. He was unresponsive, but was later 
revived and transported to the hospital. The search for his older 
brother continued until nightfall and was resumed at daybreak the next 
day. The body of the 5-year-old was recovered just before 9 a.m.
  As islanders, the people of Guam are particularly sensitive to water-
related tragedies such as this, especially when they involve children 
and youngsters. This incident received considerable media attention 
from the initial call for help to the discovery of the second little 
boy's body the next day. News accounts credited an unidentified surfer 
with the rescue of the first little boy.
  I wish to share that surfer's name because he truly is a lifesaver 
and merits this recognition. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ray Lujan is well-known 
within Guam's surfing community, but he is not one to seek publicity 
for himself or sing his own praises. He much prefers the sun on his 
back and a good wave under his surfboard. During the many years that he 
has spent pursuing the waves, Mr. Lujan has witnessed many water-
related tragedies. To his credit, many of the near tragedies are just 
that, because Mr. Lujan got involved. He has rescued swimmers who were 
swept over the reef. He has pulled drowning swimmers and surfers out of 
the water and brought them safely back to shore.
  In this incident, Mr. Lujan not only discovered the 3-year-old. In a 
desperate bid to keep death from claiming a victim, he also performed 
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the little boy, even though he has had 
no prior training. Today, that little boy is alive and well on his way 
to a full recovery. The Guam Fire Department has since nominated Mr. 
Lujan for an award recognizing his admirable and selfless contribution 
to the rescue of this young boy.
  Mr. Speaker, I take great pride and pleasure in praising Mr. Ray 
Lujan and in commending him for being a valuable member of the Guam 
community. I am confident that Mr. Lujan's humanitarianism will remain 
forever as deep as his enthusiasm for surfing.

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