[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 53 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRUE AMERICAN HEROES: A SALUTE TO BOYD CLINES, LARRY ROGERS, AND MATT 
  MOSELEY FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND COURAGE IN THE APRIL 12, 1999 DARING 
                          RESCUE OF IVERS SIMS

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge and 
salute the heroism and bravery displayed during the brave and daring 
rescue of Ivers Sims by Atlanta firefighter Matt Moseley, Georgia 
Department of Natural Resources pilot Boyd Clines, and his navigator, 
Larry Rogers on April 12, 1999.
  Many Americans watched this frightening drama unfold on television, 
and all prayed for a successful and joyous rescue. Last Monday 
afternoon, as members of the Atlanta City Fire Department fought a 
raging fire throughout the historic Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill in 
southeast Atlanta, Ivers Sims, a construction worker, found himself 
trapped on top of a swaying, 250-foot crane above the raging fire that 
had erupted in the mill. Boyd Clines and Larry Rogers arrived on the 
scene and miraculously negotiated their helicopter through the menacing 
wind, smoke, and fire which emanated from the cotton mill, while 
Atlanta firefighter, Matt Moseley, dangled from a rope near the 
flames--all working together to save the life of Mr. Sims.
  Thanks to dedicated teamwork, amazing heroism, courage and valor in 
risking their own lives, these three brave men rescued Ivers Sims from 
above the flames, and moments later, all four safely returned to the 
ground. When I think of these three heroic Americans and their brave 
actions I am reminded of the words of Theodore Roosevelt who once said, 
``Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, 
sincerity, and hardihood--the virtues that made America.'' These three 
men have brought pride and honor to the State of Georgia and to the 
entire Nation. Boyd, Larry and Matt are true examples of the courage, 
honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood that this Nation is 
built upon, and are indeed great Americans!
  I would like to salute all Atlanta firefighters, police officers and 
Sheriffs deputies who diligently worked together in order to fight the 
massive fire that engulfed the historic cotton mill. I would also like 
to praise the fire fighters throughout the Nation who, like Matt 
Moseley, put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our 
communities. Mr. President, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
recognizing and honoring the heroism and bravery displayed by Boyd 
Clines, Larry Rogers, and Matt Moseley under the most dangerous of 
circumstances in saving the life of Ivers Sims.

                          ____________________