[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING LIEUTENANT ERIC WALLACE AND LIEUTENANT GREGORY PICKARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2013, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores) is recognized 
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, on February 15 and 16, a couple of weeks 
ago, America lost two more heroes and dedicated first responders. On 
those dates, the Bryan Fire Department responded to a fire at the 
Knights of Columbus Hall in Bryan, Texas. This blaze was fierce, and 
ultimately the roof collapsed, taking the lives of Lieutenant Eric 
Wallace and Lieutenant Gregory Pickard. In addition, firefighters Ricky 
Mantey, Jr., and Mitch Moran were critically injured during the rescue 
operation.
  Lieutenant Gregory Pickard was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, and 
eventually made his way to the great State of Texas. Pickard was a 32-
year veteran of the Bryan Fire Department. During those 32 years, he 
served our community through one of the darkest days of our community, 
the collapse of the bonfire at Texas A&M University. Lieutenant Pickard 
served as a rescue division commander during the search and rescue of 
the victims and, ultimately, the 12 fallen students. He rose through 
the ranks and served as battalion chief from 1999 to 2005 before 
choosing to step back to lieutenant to finish out his career. Pickard 
also served as an EMT and obtained his Advanced Firefighter 
certificate, and he was a leader in establishing many of the current 
Bryan Fire Department firefighting operations.
  Lieutenant Eric Wallace was born here in our Nation's capital and, 
just like Lieutenant Pickard, eventually found his way to Texas. He 
also adapted quickly to our Texas culture and became an avid hunter. 
Wallace was a 13-year veteran of the Bryan Fire Department, and in 2010 
he received an award for bravery during a fire in 2009 from the 100 
Club.
  On February 20, I attended the memorial service for both of these 
honorable men and stood with their families and friends, their fellow 
first responders, and the hundreds of citizens in attendance to honor 
and recognize these local heroes. We all mourned, and yet we celebrated 
the lives of both these great men. On February 21 and February 22, 
Lieutenant Eric Wallace and Lieutenant Gregory Pickard were laid to 
rest in Marlin and Bryan, Texas.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and many friends of 
Lieutenant Wallace and Lieutenant Pickard. They will forever be 
remembered as outstanding firefighters, husbands, and devoted fathers. 
We thank them and their families for their service and their sacrifice 
for our community.
  Also, our thoughts and prayers are with firefighters Ricky Mantey, 
Jr., and Mitch Moran, who were critically injured during the fire. We 
pray that our Heavenly Father will give them a speedy recovery and 
comfort their families.
  The sacrifices of these men model the words of Jesus in John 15:13, 
where he said:

       Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his 
     life for his friends.

  God bless our first responders, and God bless America.

                          ____________________