[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 25]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 34387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF FIREFIGHTER DAVID M. LOVING OF RICHMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2007

  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Firefighter David M. 
Loving of the Richmond, Virginia Department of Fire and Emergency 
Medical Services and to congratulate him on receiving the National 
Public Safety Medal of Valor award. This award is the highest national 
award for bravery by a public safety officer and it recognizes 
extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.
  On August 6, 2005, Firefighter Loving was off-duty and on his way 
home after completing a 24-hour shift when he came upon the scene of a 
horrific traffic accident on Interstate 95. A motor home had rear-ended 
an 18-wheeler parked on the shoulder of the highway. Firefighter Loving 
stopped to offer assistance and was advised that there were people 
trapped inside the motor home. As the motor home filled with smoke, 
Firefighter Loving, without any safety gear, climbed inside the vehicle 
and was able to untangle the victim and pull him to safety. Within 
minutes, the motor home was engulfed in flames and witnesses stated 
that the victim would have died prior to the arrival of the first 
responding emergency unit without Firefighter Loving's heroic actions.
  Please join me in congratulating Firefighter David Loving and the 
four other recipients of the National Public Safety Medal of Valor 
award this year and in thanking these exceptional public safety 
officers for their service, dedication, and heroism.

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