[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S4510]]
                  TRIBUTE TO FIRE CHIEF ROBERT GIORGIO

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a brave 
human being. Robert Giorgio is the Fire Chief in the town of Cherry 
Hill, New Jersey. In April of last year Chief Giorgio put himself in 
harm's way and performed honorably in the face of danger.
  It was April 3, 2002, and Chief Giorgio was in his office when he 
heard reports of a vehicle that had crashed over a highway overpass on 
a State highway in Cherry Hill. Although not required to respond to the 
incident, Chief Giorgio chose to do so.
  When Chief Giorgio arrived on the scene he saw that the car was 
suspended about five feet above the ground, just barely held in place 
by a small tree. There was also a fire from the engine compartment that 
was spreading into the interior of the car. The driver, Deborah 
Trainor, was pinned behind the steering wheel.
  Chief Giorgio gave orders to arriving firefighters and directed 
civilians to use portable fire extinguishers. He quickly realized that 
the units dispatched by the fire department would not reach the scene 
by the time the fire reached Ms. Trainor. Understanding the gravity of 
the situation Chief Giorgio placed himself beneath the vehicle in an 
attempt to free her. To say that there was a serious chance of the car 
falling on the Chief is a severe understatement. Though Ms. Trainor was 
burned by the fire, Chief Giorgio was successful in freeing her from 
the car.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and saluting this brave 
American. Chief Robert Giorgio acted with honor and bravery in putting 
himself in harm's way to save another person's life.

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