[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 4, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E14-E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO RAMON BUTLER AND COREY JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a pair of 
heroes whose courage has served as an inspiration to many in South 
Florida during this past holiday season.
  Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2004, an unattended 
candle sparked a flame that engulfed a home in the City of Miami 
Gardens, FL; fourteen-year-old Ramon

[[Page E15]]

Butler who lives next door immediately responded to cries for help. 
Ramon entered the burning home without regard to his own personal 
safety, located and rescued a one-year-old child and then reentered the 
home in an attempt to locate the baby's five-month-old sister. 
Unfortunately, the roof began to collapse and he could not proceed any 
further and exited the home.
  At this point, City of Miami Gardens Police Officer Corey Jones 
arrived on the scene. Aware that the baby was still inside and told 
which room she was in, Officer Jones rushed back to the home, pulled 
hurricane shutters open, cranked the window open and leaped inside. 
Though the flames were intense and smoke filled the home, Officer Jones 
was successful in locating the infant and bringing her out to safety.
  The Miami-Dade County Police Department recently presented its 
highest civilian honor, the Silver Medal of Valor, to Ramon Butler, and 
both he and Officer Jones have been acknowledged by Miami Gardens Mayor 
Shirley Gibson for their acts of bravery. It is with great pride that I 
too pay tribute to the efforts of these two community heroes and extend 
my congratulations to each of them for a job well done.

                          ____________________