[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 65 (Thursday, May 9, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING FALLEN FIREFIGHTER GENE M. KIRCHNER

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today with sadness in my heart to 
pay tribute to a very special individual, Gene M. Kirchner, a Baltimore 
County volunteer firefighter who died in the line of duty. Gene was 
just 25 and a volunteer firefighter for the Reisterstown Volunteer Fire 
Department. He rushed to the second floor of a house fire on April 24 
in a vain attempt to save the resident. Gene was found unconscious and 
was rushed to Maryland's Shock Trauma Center, but succumbed to his 
injuries on May 2.
  Gene joined the company's ranks when he was just 14 and served as a 
junior firefighter for 2 years before becoming a volunteer firefighter. 
He came from a family of firefighters. His twin brother Will is also a 
firefighter and so is his sister Shelly Brezicki. Craig Hewitt, 
assistant chief of the fire company, said that Gene ``was selfless, 
well-liked, funny; got along with everybody. He liked helping people.''
  Gene was laid to rest this past Sunday and the entire Baltimore 
community is mourning the death of this kind, gentle young man who laid 
down his life in an attempt to save another's life. His brother and 
sister firefighters came from as far away as New York and North 
Carolina to pay special tribute to this young man who understood the 
risks he faced, but dedicated himself to helping ensure the safety of 
others. Gene was posthumously awarded the Fire Department's Medal of 
Honor because he embodied what we, as a Nation, come to look for in our 
first responders--courage, selflessness, and dedication to duty.
  I know my U.S. Senate colleagues will want to join me in thanking 
Gene's family for giving our community such a special young man and in 
sending condolences to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters on 
the tragic loss of such a hero.

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