[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF JAMES PATRICK'S HEROISM

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                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 2009

  Mr. MURTHA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic deeds 
of one of my constituents, Mr. James Patrick of Johnstown, 
Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, while Mr. Patrick, a letter carrier 
for the US Postal Service, was on his route, he saw flames and thick 
black smoke erupting out of the top of a church. He immediately found 
someone to call 911 before he selflessly entered the burning church to 
make sure that everyone was safe.
  Even though the roof of the church and the adjacent rectory were 
rapidly becoming engulfed in flames, Pastor Robert Hall and the 
church's secretary were unaware of the fire. Patrick informed the two 
of the fire, but Pastor Hall wanted to put the fire out himself. 
However, Patrick insisted that everyone leave. He is quoted as saying, 
``Father, you have to get out--the whole roof is on fire.''
  Because of his courageous deeds, two people's lives were saved. 
Subsequently, Pastor Hall, in a letter to the Postal Service wrote, 
``In this day and age when people don't want to get involved, I want to 
say thank you to your employee for going the extra mile.''
  Patrick is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, 
Johnstown Branch 451. For his actions, he was recently recognized by 
the Association and was awarded the Eastern Region Hero Award.
  Madam Speaker, I wish to close my remarks by commending Mr. James 
Patrick for his heroic actions. We are fortunate that we have people 
like Mr. Patrick who choose to go above and beyond what is expected so 
that lives may be saved.

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