[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 126 (Thursday, July 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E635-E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL HEROES DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED PERLMUTTER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2020

  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor heroes from the 
theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. Twelve lives 
were taken, seventy were injured, and hundreds suffered emotional 
trauma. Yet even in this tragedy, we saw incredible heroism that 
night--those who sacrificed themselves to save others, those who helped 
others while badly wounded themselves, and lives that were saved by the 
tireless efforts of first responders and medical teams.
  These men inspired me to act on a National Heroes Day Resolution:
  John Larimer, age 27, was a Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class and 
cryptologic technician who was stationed at Buckley Air Force Base in 
Aurora for about a year. He was murdered protecting his girlfriend and 
his friend inside the theater, jumping into action to protect them once 
the shooting began. John was the youngest of five siblings from Crystal 
Lake, Illinois.
  Jonathan Blunk, age 26, served his country in three tours in the 
Middle East. His desire was to become a Navy Seal. He was at the 
theater with a girlfriend when the shooting started and immediately 
pushed her under the seats, saving her life. Jonathan was shot multiple 
times and suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his heart. He left behind a 
widow and two small children in Reno, Nevada.
  Matt McQuinn, age 27, was in love with his girlfriend and wanted to 
marry her and start a family. When the shooting began, he leaned over 
his girlfriend to get her out of harm's way. She was shot but survived. 
He was shot nine

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times; the most of anyone in the theater. He was survived by his 
parents, brothers, and girlfriend in Ohio.
  Alex Teves, age 24, was born and spent his early years in New Jersey 
before moving to Arizona and then onto Colorado where he earned a 
master's in psychology the month before he was killed. He counseled 
kids with unique learning and emotional challenges at Humanex Academy. 
He was murdered after pulling his girlfriend down to safety, leaving 
himself exposed; a bullet hit him in the forehead as he whispered 
comforting words of love. He was the oldest of three siblings.
  After his death, Alex's parents, Caren and Tom, began the ``No 
Notoriety'' movement asking that the media stop concentrating its 
coverage on the shooters for the sake of public safety. This movement 
is widely endorsed by law enforcement and on both sides of the aisle.
  These individuals inspired me to introduce a resolution with my 
colleagues from the Colorado Congressional Delegation to designate July 
20th as ``National Heroes Day'' to honor their memory and all those who 
save lives and improve their communities.
  Those whose loved ones have been taken by horrific acts of violence, 
have honored their memories with action and now ask us to do the same. 
I will always remember the exceptional acts of courage displayed by 
those in Aurora and will continue working with my colleagues to enact 
meaningful reforms to prevent these horrific acts of violence.

                          ____________________