[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 191 (Monday, November 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LEGACY OF LIFENET PARAMEDIC SHON MATTHEWS

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                          HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 9, 2020

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember 
the legacy of Shon Matthews. A paramedic with the LifeNet Texarkana 
Division since October 2007, Shon was a wonderful example of service 
above self.
  Shon passed away on Monday, November 2 after a battle with COVID-19. 
The Fourth District of Arkansas will grieve not only the loss of a 
friend, but also an exemplary public servant. For the past 23 years, 
Shon committed his life to working as a first responder, even 
volunteering for his local fire department in addition to working as an 
EMT and, eventually, a paramedic.
  Beyond his own service on LifeNet Air medical helicopters, he sought 
to teach others those life-saving skills as Operations Manager for the 
Texarkana Division. Later becoming an area manager, Shon is said to 
have done ``whatever the company needed to take care of patients and to 
serve the community.''
  I first met Shon when he visited my office in 2019 for the American 
Ambulance Association's Stars of Life event. He was dubbed ``The Selfie 
King'' during that trip to Washington, and I am honored I had the 
chance to visit with him and learn more about his work in Arkansas. I 
take this time to honor Shon and his family for their selfless love of 
community and their sacrifice for the safety and well-being of their 
fellow man.

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