[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5248-S5249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION LIFESAVING MEDAL

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am proud to announce to the Senate today 
the names of the four youngsters who are recipients of the 1997 
American Automobile Association Lifesaving Medal.
  This is the highest award given to members of school safety patrols 
throughout the United States. It is presented annually to students, 
who, while on duty took heroic lifesaving actions to save the life of a 
fellow student from imminent danger.
  I would like to briefly describe the heroic actions of these four 
young citizens.
  The first two honorees hail from the State of Ohio. On February 28, 
1997, Leawood Elementary School Safety Patrol Captain Surmel D. 
Cummings and Patrol Edwin H. Berry were assisting students on their way 
home. Surmel noticed a 6-year-old boy and his 8-year-old cousin walking 
close to the westbound on-ramp for I-70.
  The cousin was trying to prevent the 6-year-old from climbing over 
the guardrail next to the on-ramp. Surmel ran over to the two boys and 
tried to hold the 6-year-old. The boy began hitting and kicking Surmel. 
Edwin ran to help his partner. The 6-year-old broke loose from Surmel 
and scrambled over the guardrail. He was now confronted by the fast-
moving cars on the on-ramp. Surmel told Edwin to try to get the 6-year-
old back across the guardrail while he returned to the school to get 
help.
  When a car driver started blowing his horn, the 6-year-old covered 
his ears and turned his back toward Edwin. At that moment, Edwin 
grabbed the 6-year-old and pulled him back across the guardrail to 
safety. This was a great team effort by both of these two young men.
  The State of Indiana can be proud of the next honoree.
  While on duty on December 6, 1996, Shambaugh Elementary School Safety 
Patrol Marcus A. Morgan, noticed a 6-year-old girl running alongside a 
van. This vehicle had just dropped her off and was pulling away from 
the curb. Marcus yelled for the girl to stop chasing the van, but he 
quickly realized the girl's string was caught in the van door. She then 
fell and was being dragged by the van.
  Marcus raced after the van, shouting for the driver to stop. he ran 
to the passenger-side and banged on the window to get the driver to 
stop. The van kept moving so he ran to the driver-side window to get 
the driver's attention while a parent banged on the passenger-side 
window. The driver finally stopped after 54 feet. The girl was not

[[Page S5249]]

seriously injured due to Marcus' quick and heroic actions.
  AAA's last honoree is from California.
  It was a clear afternoon on November 4, 1996, at St. Jarbeth's School 
when School Safety Patrol Domonique Fines and April Corral took their 
post on the northwest corner of Harold and Champion Streets.
  A white pickup truck stopped at the stop sign next to their post and 
then started up the steep hill on Harold Street. Near the top of the 
hill, the truck stalled and rolled backward. As it came down the hill, 
the truck picked up speed.
  Unaware of the truck, April handed her patrol sign to Domonique as 
she bent down to tie her shoe. Domonique noticed the truck rapidly 
heading toward them. She shouted to April to watch out and started to 
cross Harold Street to get out of its way. Halfway across the street, 
Domonique looked back to see if her partner, April, was following her. 
Unaware of the danger, April was still tying her shoe. Domonique yelled 
again, but April couldn't hear her over the noise from the street 
traffic and the playground.
  Unconcerned about her own safety, Domonique ran back to April, 
grabbed her arm, and pushed her out of the way. The truck jump the curb 
where April had been tying her shoe and then crashed into a fence.
  I also want to recognize and thank the American Automobile 
Association for their invaluable safety program and for honoring these 
outstanding safety patrol members.
  In the 1920's AAA began organizing safety patrol programs whereby 
older students assist younger students while crossing streets as they 
walked to and from school. Today, more than 500,000 students across the 
country serve as AAA safety patrol volunteers. In fact, there are 
currently 50,000 schools with safety patrols.
  AAA supplies training materials, belts, badges, and other items 
needed to operate the safety patrol programs. Importantly, AAA promotes 
and recognizes patrol efforts each year through a series of awards, 
newsletters, summer camps, and scholarships.
  On behalf of my Senate colleagues, and for parents all across the 
country, I want to thank AAA. Their work in helping to keep our 
youngsters a little safer on their way to and from school is extremely 
praiseworthy.
  I am very proud of Surmel, Edwin, Marcus, and Domonique who 
exemplified courage and citizenship. I know that their parents and 
communities are equally as proud. These four youngsters showed great 
courage in saving another individuals life.

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