[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO CIITIZEN OF THE YEAR OSCAR GUTIERREZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to 
an individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
San Clemente, California are exceptional. San Clemente has been 
fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated young people who willingly and 
unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a 
better place to live and work. Oscar Gutierrez is one of these young 
leaders. On February 25, 2010, Oscar will be honored at the San 
Clemente Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony where he 
will receive the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.
  Eighteen year old Oscar Gutierrez resides with his mother and sister 
in San Clemente. Sadly, Oscar lost his father in 2005. At age 13, Oscar 
started working to help financially support his family. In addition, he 
joined the Orange County Sheriffs Explorer Program, Post 449. On 
December 4, 2008, Oscar was home doing his homework when he heard 
screams coming from outside. He looked out and saw smoke and flames 
billowing from the apartment building next door. Oscar grabbed a fire 
extinguisher, and along with his sister and a cousin, who are also 
Explorers, and ran to help. Sheriffs deputies were evacuating the 
building so Oscar began checking around to make sure everyone was safe.
  It was then that he noticed an elderly couple on a second floor 
balcony waiting for assistance. Smoke was pouring out of their 
apartment and they were beginning to panic. The woman was in a 
wheelchair and the husband seemed frail. The only way down was an 
exterior flight of stairs. Oscar did not hesitate: he recruited the 
help of another neighbor, ran up the stairs and carried the woman in 
her wheelchair down the stairs to safety.
  Oscar graduated from San Clemente High School in 2009 and is 
attending college at California State San Marcos as a Sociology Major. 
He has received multiple scholarships and also works at Pedro's Tacos. 
He continues to attend the Explorer Program four times a month. He is 
the first one in his family to go to college.
  Oscar Gutierrez at the young age of 18 is a hero and a model citizen. 
He is a hard working individual who cares deeply about San Clemente and 
its citizens. Oscar is truly an incredible young man who has a very 
bright future. Oscar's actions and selflessness have contributed 
immensely to the betterment of the community of San Clemente, 
California. I join the many community members who are grateful for 
Oscar and salute him as he receives the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award.

                          ____________________