[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20725-20726]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE HEROISM OF MR. KENNETH W. MERRERO OF HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2002

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to recognize Mr. 
Kenneth W. Merrero, a constituent of mine from Hershey, Pennsylvania, 
for his bravery and heroism. Mr. Merrero saved the life of his co-
worker, Mr. Michael F. Tomlin, on July 30, 2001.
  Mr. Tomlin was seated in a pickup truck parked on the shoulder of a 
highway when another vehicle struck it from behind. The impact forced 
Mr. Tomlin's truck into a drill rig parked in front. Fires broke out at 
the front and rear ends of Mr. Tomlin's truck. The collision caused Mr. 
Tomlin to strike his head. He sat in the truck dazed and surrounded by 
fire.
  Fearlessly, Mr. Merrero approached the pickup truck to look for Mr. 
Tomlin, but because of the dense smoke, he could not see Mr. Tomlin. 
Mr. Merrero opened the passenger door of the truck, climbed inside, and 
attempted to pull Mr. Tomlin across the seat. However, Mr. Tomlin was 
caught in the wreckage and Mr. Merrero had to re-enter the truck

[[Page 20726]]

to free him. Finally, Mr. Tomlin was pulled to safety as the fire 
engulfed the truck.
  Mr. Tomlin was hospitalized but soon recovered.
  For his astonishing heroism, Mr. Merrero was recognized recently by 
the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The Commission awards the Carnegie 
Medal to those individuals who have risked their lives to an 
extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of 
others.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Mr. Merrero for his great courage 
and on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, congratulate him 
for being awarded the Carnegie Medal. Just as Mr. Tomlin is a blessed 
man for having Mr. Merrero so close that day, so too is the entire 
Central Pennsylvania community for having their own noble and exemplary 
hero.

                          ____________________