[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1811-E1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JANE McLAUGHLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with you and my 
colleagues my pride in an incredible woman who has the distinction of 
being the oldest active paramedic in Oregon. Jane McLaughlin is 74 
years of age and is completing service as the Emergency Medical 
Services Chief for the Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance Service, capping 
off a long and distinguished career.
  Jane began her EMS career almost three decades ago when her youngest 
son suffered an accidental wound and was treated and transported by 
Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance Service. From that day on, she knew that 
her calling was to meaningfully serve and comfort those in need of 
emergency medical assistance.
  Since accepting this calling, Jane has served her community for over 
28 years in a variety of emergency response functions. She has held 
every level of EMS certification the State of Oregon authorizes and has 
volunteered thousands of hours of service. Jane has never stopped 
learning and she has never stopped growing. At 61, she completed her 
fire fighting academy training.
  The many awards and accolades presented to Jane are a strong 
testimony to how much her community and others value her service to her 
fellow man. The Klamath County United Way has recognized Jane both with 
their Accommodation for Excellence and Volunteer of the Year Award. The 
State of Oregon Department of EMS and Trauma Systems awarded her the 
Meritorious Service award as paramedic of the year. Jane was chosen by 
the mayor of Chiloquin to be the grand marshal in the 2009 Fourth of 
July Parade for her outstanding service.
  Madam Speaker, however noteworthy Jane's age, years of service, and 
many awards are, the real story is the good that she has done for 
almost three decades of service. Jane's neighbors and local citizens 
are familiar with her accomplishments, but they know her best for her 
kindness, her compassion, her dedication, and her unselfishness. In the 
community, when people think about the Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance 
Service, Jane McLaughlin comes immediately to mind.
  Jane has demonstrated heroism when she has on many occasions risked 
her own life to save the lives of others. Jane's comforting ways as a 
first responder have helped the injured and sick cope with their 
emergency situation with reduced fear and confidence that their 
condition will improve. Jane has an incredible gift of healing that 
goes far beyond the administering of basic medical attention. She not 
only relieves pain, she delivers comfort and peace to people in 
distressed situations. The service that Jane has given to others comes 
from an acute sense of duty and the sincere goodwill of an unselfish, 
engaged, and compassionate person.
  As my esteemed colleagues well know, an impact player like Jane 
McLaughlin sets the tone of a successful operation, provides a shining 
example for others to follow in a relentless path to excellence, and 
engages others to join her in serving their fellow man. Jane will be 
missed, but her good work will continue in the hands and hearts of 
those she has inspired and trained to deliver the best in emergency 
medical service.
  Madam Speaker and colleagues, I invite you to join me in honoring 
Jane McLaughlin, the kind of person who improves our world and restores 
our faith in our fellow man. Her goodness is contagious, and she sets 
an example for all of us to follow.

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