[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HEROISM IS ALIVE AND WELL

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 1996

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I've got some good news for you, and for 
all of America.
  Heroism is alive and well and, I'm proud to say, it's alive and well 
in my own hometown of Queensbury, NY.
  Mrs. Cecilia L. Parker of Meadowbrook Road, a few miles north of my 
own street, is alive today because of the heroism of two neighbors, 
Jenny Lortz, and high school student Theodore ``Ted'' Turner III.
  Last month, the Parker car burst into flames in her carport. Neighbor 
Jenny Lortz, alerted by a daughter, dialed 911 and ran to investigate. 
Across the street, the young Turner saw the flames and ran to the 
house. He and Lortz determined that Mrs. Parker was inside the house. 
With the noise from exploding car tires in his ears, Turner kicked in a 
back door and pulled a stunned Mrs. Parker out of her chair and through 
the smoke to safety.
  Witnesses said that a few minutes later it would have been too late.
  Mr. Speaker, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that 
all kids these day are ill-mannered brats, but that is obviously far 
from the truth. A grateful Mrs. Parker later remembered young Turner as 
the good kid across the street who used to help her with chores. But 
let us acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, that Ted Turner III is not a ``kid'' 
but a young man already assuming his duties as a responsible citizen 
and neighbor. We find such heroes in neighborhoods in towns and 
villages and cities all over America, and it's what makes this the 
great country what it is.
  Let us also, Mr. Speaker, acknowledge the quick thinking of Jenny 
Lortz, who first called 911, and joined Turner both in his rescue and 
later in staying with Mrs. Parker as Queensbury Central, my old 
volunteer company, put out the flames.
  Mrs. Parker, I might add, used to work for my father's store, M. 
Solomon's, in Queensbury, and I certainly am glad she survived this 
ordeal.
  We have two heroes to thank for that, Mr. Speaker, so let us rise in 
tribute to those two fine Americans, Theodore Turner III and Jenny 
Lortz of Queensbury, NY.

                          ____________________