[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING PAUL HARDING OF ANNANDALE, VA, FOR RECEIVING AAA 
                     PRESIDENTIAL LIFESAVING MEDAL

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an 
exceptional young man in my community who has demonstrated wisdom and 
maturity beyond his years. Paul Hardin of Annandale, Va., is receiving 
the Presidential Lifesaving Medal, one of only seven being awarded this 
year, in honor of his duties with the AAA School Safety Patrol program. 
This award is given annually to patrollers whose brave and selfless 
actions helped save the life of another person.
  Paul is 11 years old and is a fifth grader at Canterbury Woods 
Elementary School, where his safety patrol post involves two-way 
vehicle and pedestrian traffic. On February 2, 2011, Paul physically 
stopped the parent of another student who was about to walk into 
oncoming traffic with a car within 5 to 8 feet of the crosswalk. His 
swift, heroic actions prevented a possible tragedy. Paul's family and 
his safety patrol team at Canterbury Woods Elementary should be proud 
of his actions and this achievement.
  The AAA School Safety Patrol program is a nationwide program active 
in 31,000 schools with more than 600,000 students who volunteer to keep 
their fellow students safe before and after school. Through their 
duties, these students exhibit citizenship, leadership skills, and 
civic engagement. The AAA School Safety Patrol program pays tribute 
every year to patrollers who have saved someone's life during the 
school year. The Presidential Lifesaving Medal is the highest honor a 
student can receive, and it has been awarded to 392 students since 
1949.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Paul 
Hardin on receiving the Presidential Lifesaving Medal. I extend my 
congratulations to Paul, his family and his fellow safety patrollers, 
and as we say to others in the public safety community, ``Stay Safe.''

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