[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE NASHVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S RESCUE TASK FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK E. GREEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2023

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Nashville Fire Department's Rescue Task Force (RTF) for its quick and 
effective response during the Covenant School shooting. The RTF 
demonstrated bravery, selflessness, and poise during a senseless and 
violent tragedy.
  This specialized force is composed of Nashville Fire Department 
Paramedics, Advanced EMTs, and Firefighters who are trained to work in 
tandem with law enforcement to enter a newly secured area to provide 
triage, emergent care, and to carry out patient extraction. These brave 
men and women expedited the medical care and transport for the 
individuals who were injured during the shooting. Where there was 
gunfire, these individuals ran towards the danger instead of away from 
it. Without a doubt, their bravery saved lives.
  I continue to carry a heavy and grieving heart for my home state of 
Tennessee. No one should ever have to endure what The Covenant School 
and the Nashville community have gone through. As our home and the rest 
of the country come together to mourn this senseless loss of life, we 
remember the victims of this horrible attack.
  Yet, even as we mourn the tragic losses of life--every one of them 
precious--we also praise the heroic efforts of our first responders. I 
am proud to commend all the first responders who were on the scene, and 
the medical professionals who treated the victims at Vanderbilt Medical 
Center. Tennesseans are strong and they take care of each other.
  It is fitting that we honor these brave men and women by name: 
Paramedic Trevor Skiera and AEMT Chad Miller served on RTF-Medical; 
Captain Scott Burgess, Engineer Timothy Flowers, Firefighter Samuel 
Smith, and Firefighter Chad Malone served on RTF-Fire Operations; 
Engineer Justin Agnew, Firefighter Kayla Toney, Firefighter Garlon 
Russell, Engineer Cody Pomeroy, Firefighter Matthew Mangrum, 
Firefighter Joseph Mangrum, Firefighter David Travis, Firefighter 
Marsenio Rayford, Engineer William Brandt, Firefighter Gabriel King, 
and Firefighter Brett Yeager served on RTF-Extraction.
  Though unspeakable grief still holds Nashville in its grasp, we are 
all grateful for the work of our first responders. On behalf of the 
United States Congress and all of Tennessee, I thank the Rescue Task 
Force for its heroic efforts to save precious lives in the face of 
evil. May God bless them and keep them safe.

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