[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL LIFESAVING AWARD RECIPIENTS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the actions of the 
five young Americans who are this year's School Safety Patrol 
Lifesaving Award recipients as chosen by the American Automobile 
Association.
  The American Automobile Association, AAA, began the School Safety 
Patrol Program in 1920 as a way to promote traffic safety amongst 
school children. Since 1949, the AAA School Safety Patrol Program has 
awarded its highest honor, the Lifesaving Award, to those patrollers 
who have acted to save the life of another. This year five heroic 
School Safety Patrollers are receiving this award, and it is my great 
honor to recognize their courageous actions.
  In nearby Alexandria, VA, Norman Wallace was at his bus patrol post 
helping to safely direct fellow Hybla Valley Elementary School students 
exit the bus when he spotted a vehicle coming towards a 5-year-old girl 
who was crossing in front of the bus. Acting quickly, Norman pulled the 
young girl from harm's way. His courageous actions ensured that the 
girl went unharmed.
  Lulu Beltran showed great foresight while performing her duty as an 
AAA school safety patroller at Dixie Downs Elementary School in St. 
George, UT. While a fellow student was crossing the street, Lulu 
noticed that an approaching vehicle was not slowing down. After 
assessing the situation, Lulu moved swiftly and pulled her fellow 
student out of harm's way.
  Working with her patrol advisor at Minnehaha Elementary School in 
Vancouver, WA, Sierra Clark acted bravely to prevent a fifth-grade girl 
from being hit when a vehicle suddenly sped around a corner. As the 
vehicle approached the crossing, Sierra snapped into action and pushed 
the girl out of danger.
  Hunter Turner was patrolling a busy intersection near his Strassburg 
School in Sauk Village, IL, when a student began to cross the street 
without checking for cars first. As a car turned the corner, Hunter 
pulled the student back onto the sidewalk. If not for Hunter's valiant 
action, the student would have been struck.
  After only 2 weeks at his school safety patrol post at Waterville 
Primary School in Waterville, OH, Matthew Krause prevented a 
kindergartener from stepping off a sidewalk just as a truck passed. 
Matthew's awareness of his surroundings and attentiveness to his duties 
ensured that this 5-year-old remained unscathed.
  The five patrollers whom I have spoken of exemplify values such as 
courage, alertness, and a commitment to safety, all of which the AAA 
School Safety Patrol Program has promoted over the years. Patrollers 
throughout our Nation serve an important role in ensuring that our 
young people safely navigate traffic hazards to and from school, and I 
thank them for their work.

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