[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING MR. JAMES VERNON OF MORTON, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DARIN LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 3, 2015

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I commemorate the heroic acts of Mr. James 
Vernon of Morton, Illinois. Mr. Vernon, now 75 years old, put himself 
between 16 terrified children and a knife-wielding teen determined to 
cause harm at an Illinois public library.
  Mr. Vernon was leading a chess club meeting with local children when 
the attacker entered the library holding a knife in each hand. Vernon, 
a retired Caterpillar technology worker and Army veteran, averted the 
attacker's attention away from the children, ages 7 to 13, allowing 
time for the students to exit the library. Vernon attempted to talk the 
attacker down before any advances were made. During his discussion with 
the teen, Vernon used the diversion to deduce that the attacker was 
right-hand dominant, which would help if he needed to subdue the 
attacker.
  Despite the efforts of Vernon to calm the attacker, the teen once 
again became aggressive. Recalling the Army training he received nearly 
half a century ago, Vernon blocked one blade with his left hand and 
threw the attacker onto a table. Mr. Vernon suffered lacerations to his 
hand as he subdued the attacker before the authorities arrived.
  All children escaped the library without harm thanks to Mr. Vernon's 
courageous act. I feel it is most appropriate to commend James Vernon 
today and thank him for his years of service to the community and to 
this country.

                          ____________________