[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 162 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            JOHN GIOVANNINI

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a 
genuine hero, who paid the ultimate price so that a loved one might 
live.
  John Edward Giovannini, born in 1958, was an employee of US Airways 
and a member of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed in 
Harrisburg, PA. He served in the Marines from 1976 to 1980, and joined 
the Air National Guard in 1985.
  On September 13, 1999, while vacationing with his girlfriend and her 
family in Ocean City, Maryland, John was faced with a fateful decision. 
While enjoying a relaxing day on the beach, the calm was suddenly 
shattered by desperate cries from Kim, the 21-year-old daughter of 
John's girlfriend. Kim was swimming in the ocean when a riptide 
threatened to carry her out to sea. Without concern for his own safety, 
John immediately swam out to reach Kim before the current could carry 
her away. Being an exceptionally strong swimmer, John was able to reach 
Kim despite the riptide, and began towing her toward the beach. Before 
reaching shore, John became overwhelmed with exhaustion from fighting 
the strong current. He continued to struggle toward shore, and when 
unable to swim any further, John fought with all his might to keep Kim 
above water as he cried out for help. Kim's grandmother, Deanna, swam 
out to the pair and successfully helped Kim back to shore. Meanwhile 
John's friend, Ron, came to his aid and pulled John the remaining 
distance to the beach. By the time John reached shore, he was 
completely incapacitated, having expended all of his energy in his 
effort to save Kim. The lifeguard and medical technicians were unable 
to revive John, and he died while being transported to the hospital. If 
not for John's quick actions and refusal to put his own life before 
Kim's, she would surely have been swept away.
  Words can not begin to adequately describe the ultimate sacrifice 
John made on that fateful September day. His selfless courage is rarely 
demonstrated today apart from storybooks and movies. John Giovannini is 
truly an American hero, and as I extend my heartfelt condolences to 
John's loved ones for their tragic loss, I would also like to express 
my sincere admiration for the courage which John displayed throughout 
this tragic event.

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