[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 124 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING KELLY GERMAN AND HAZEL THOMPSON

  (Mrs. NOEM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. NOEM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the courageous 
actions of Kelly German and Hazel Thompson of Watertown, South Dakota. 
On the night of August 6, 2013, Kelly and Hazel helped save the lives 
of over 40 elderly men and women at a retirement home in Watertown.
  A fire started in one of the apartments late in the evening; and one 
of the residents, Hazel, heard yelling down the hall and immediately 
informed Kelly German, the night manager, that the building was on 
fire. Kelly promptly called 911 and immediately began knocking on 
tenants' doors, many of whom were sleeping. Knowing that many of the 
doors were locked and that many of the residents were hard of hearing 
and slightly immobile, Kelly ran back to her apartment to get the 
master key. She then resumed knocking on and opening every door to 
awaken the residents and rush them out of the building.
  Without the quick action of Hazel, the heroics of Kelly, and the 
local firefighters in Watertown, many would have lost their lives that 
night. This story is of special significance to me because Kelly is 
also a member of my staff and lost everything she owns in that fire. 
Residents of the home, the community of Watertown, and I will be 
forever grateful for her selfless act.

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