[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 146 (Monday, October 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE HEROISM OF ANDREW MONTGOMERY

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, too often the media reports about a terrible 
mistake made or a crime committed by one of America's young people. But 
there are millions and millions of young people who we never hear 
about--young people who are doing the right things, young people 
avoiding the mistakes often made by their peers, young people working 
hard in school, young people participating in the civic activities of 
their town or city, and, sometimes, young people doing remarkable 
things.
  Mr. President, I want to tell my Senate colleagues about one special 
young person, Andrew Montgomery, from Crystal Springs, MS.
  On August 19, 1995, when he was only eleven years old, Andrew first 
proved himself. He came upon a crowd of people who had surrounded an 
unconscious woman near the seawall in Galveston, TX. No one in the 
crowd was taking action, so Andrew stepped forward and administered CPR 
and treatment for shock. Eventually, an emergency medical team arrived 
and transported the woman to a local hospital, where she recovered.
  Mr. President, 2 years later, Andrew Montgomery was again confronted 
with an emergency situation. On August 10 of this year, Andrew was 
riding with his family near Lafayette, LA, when they came upon a 
multivehicle wreck. A car and a pickup had collided, and the car came 
to rest in a ditch, with a heavy metal sign collapsed upon it. Andrew 
quickly rushed to the scene. The car was smashed and on fire. The 
driver of the car was dead, and a baby in the back seat, covered with 
blood, was in danger. Unable to immediately pull the baby out of the 
wrecked car, Andrew wrapped the infant in a beach towel, and protected 
the baby from the smoke and flames of the car fire. Andrew was then 
joined by his parents, Ann and Bill, Kenneth Puckett, a truckdriver, 
and Dr. Thomas Dewey. The group rescued the child and lifted the baby 
hand-over-hand out of the ditch in which the car settled following the 
collision.
  Mr. President, how many of us would have had the presence to do the 
same? Mind you, we're talking about a young boy.
  Andrew, I might add, knew what to do because he received training 
from both the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts. Andrew's reactions 
were a direct result of this training. It saved two lives, and speaks 
volumes about how important organizations like the Red Cross and the 
Boy Scouts are to all Americans.
  Mr. President, as I said, too often we hear about the ``bad eggs'' 
among America's youth. And, we worry about America's future. But the 
story of Andrew Montgomery should remind us all how many of our youth 
are out there doing the right thing.
  We too often also hear about the broken families in America. But 
Andrew's story should remind us how many of our families are still out 
there doing the right thing. His parents, Ann and Bill Montgomery have 
good reason to be proud of their son. They raised a boy who is willing 
to make sacrifices, willing to work hard, and willing to act 
courageously. I want to also recognize his parents for setting a good 
example for their son, by being active in their community--as Scout 
leaders.
  Mr. President, I personally want to recognize Andrew Montgomery for 
being an outstanding example of America's youth.

                          ____________________