[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22939]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              LOCAL HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great appreciation and 
sincere gratitude that I take this time to honor three local men whose 
recent selfless acts have made them heroes to grateful communities in 
northwest Indiana. This exceptional group of heroes consists of Chet 
Newsome, of Lowell, Indiana, and John and Mark Thanos, both of 
Chesterton, Indiana, whose bravery and self-sacrifice are an 
inspiration to us all.
   On Saturday, August 9, 2008, at 5:30 a.m., Chet Newsome, a local 
truck driver, was awakened by the sound of what he has described as a 
blood-curdling scream from one of his neighbors. After hurrying outside 
to see what was happening, Chet saw his neighbor's garage engulfed in 
flames. He could hear the screams of two men who were trapped inside, 
so Chet ran to his garage for his ax, and without hesitation, began to 
hammer away at the door. After breaking through the door, Chet could 
see that one of the men was able to escape through a side door, but the 
other man remained trapped inside. Again, without hesitation and 
without thinking of himself, Chet reached in and was able to grip the 
severely burned man's belt and pull him to safety. Without Chet's quick 
thinking and immediate action, the outcome of this tragic event would 
have seen a very different outcome. For his bravery, the town of Lowell 
and the entire First Congressional District owe Chet Newsome their 
respect and gratitude.
   On Sunday, September 14, 2008, at approximately 10:30 a.m., John and 
Mark Thanos were alerted by screams in their neighborhood. They soon 
learned that two young boys had fallen into a nearby ditch that had 
filled with rain. By the time they arrived, one of the boys had managed 
to escape the waters, but the other was being pulled into a culvert 
under the street. In a truly selfless act, Mark, an English teacher for 
the last 20 years at Wheeler High School, and his father, John, a 
retired custodian who worked for many years for the Merrillville 
Community School Corporation, realized something needed to be done. 
They plunged into the ditch to save the 10-year-old boy, but the waters 
were too strong. While the boy was rescued, neither John nor Mark 
survived the ordeal. To those who knew John and Mark Thanos, it was no 
surprise that when called upon in such a horrific situation, they would 
answer without hesitation and would put the safety of others ahead of 
themselves. There is no greater sacrifice than to give one's life to 
save another, and John and Mark Thanos made the ultimate sacrifice to 
save the life of a child. For their heroism, they are to be forever 
remembered by the people of northwest Indiana and beyond.
   These real-life heroes represent true courage and bravery, and they 
are the greatest example of the valor and strength of our country and 
its citizens.
   Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in commending and acknowledging these outstanding heroes of 
northwest Indiana. Their bravery while putting aside personal safety to 
ensure the safety of others is worthy of the highest honor and respect. 
I am grateful and am truly honored to recognize these astonishing 
individuals and their remarkable acts of heroism.

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