[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MEREDITH BUCK, 2009 RECIPIENT OF THE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2009

  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor Meredith Buck as a 2009 recipient of the Florence Nightingale 
Medal, the highest international honor in the nursing field. The Medal 
is awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross for 
``exceptional courage and devotion to caring for the victims of armed 
conflict or other disasters, or exemplary services and a creative and 
pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education''. 
Ms. Buck is one of only 28 nurses in the world receiving this honor in 
2009.
  Ms. Buck joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Red 
Cross immediately following the attacks of September 11th, and has been 
dedicated to emergency relief ever since. Locally, she has responded to 
dozens of disasters, volunteering as a nurse and as a Disaster Action 
Team responder for various county organizations. Nationally, she has 
responded to twelve disasters in locations ranging from New York to 
Texas to Guam.
  Ms. Buck has demonstrated remarkable leadership in her field, having 
served as an instructor for the Emergency Services Department. She is 
also the co-captain of the Disaster Health Services Team, a group 
comprised of 126 nurses, nursing assistants, EMTs, and other medical 
personnel trained to respond to disaster-affected clients utilizing Red 
Cross medical assistance.
  Along with these accomplishments, Ms. Buck has repeatedly proven her 
dedication to the clients of the Red Cross. From mentoring new 
volunteers as a back-up on-call nurse every other day of the week to 
traveling to a disaster site in the middle of the night, Ms. Buck has 
regularly worked all hours for those in need of her care.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ms. Meredith Buck for her 
outstanding commitment to her local community, as well as her country, 
and am extremely honored to serve as her Congressman.

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