[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 95 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H5806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN PATRICK MARTIN, FIREFIGHTER MARVIN DONALDSON, 
 FIREFIGHTER STEPHEN JOHNSON, FIREFIGHTER DAVID BRADLEY, AND MR. SEAN 
                                McKARNIN

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor five firefighters from my 
district, Missouri's Fifth, who selflessly risked their lives in the 
line of duty. On February 23, 2004, Captain Patrick Martin, Firefighter 
Marvin Donaldson, Firefighter David Bradley, Firefighter Stephen 
Johnson, and Mr. Sean McKarnin responded to a fire at a residence in 
South Kansas City not far from where I live. Upon their arrival at the 
scene, they came under heavy and rapid gunfire from a nearby residence 
and were pinned down for nearly 30 minutes while the fire raged. In the 
midst of this chaos, a paramedic who also responded to the scene was 
shot. The team members successfully pulled her to safety and eventually 
extinguished the fire.
  Today, these five heroes will be awarded the Public Safety Officer 
Medal of Valor by President Bush. He will recognize their extraordinary 
valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal is the highest 
national award for valor by a public safety officer and only 10 public 
safety officers will receive this award this year.
  I commend those firefighters for their exceptional courage and 
decisiveness in an extraordinary situation and know my colleagues will 
join me in honoring them today.

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