[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21934]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MATTHEW POLNOW

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DONALD P. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take this 
opportunity to recognize a heroic resident of the 16th District of 
Illinois, Matthew Polnow of Rockford. Mr. Polnow works for the U.S. 
Postal Service and is a member of the National Association of Letter 
Carriers.
  On June 11, 2008, as he was delivering mail on his postal route, 
Carrier Polnow witnessed a crushing three-vehicle accident. In a matter 
of seconds, he ran to the first car, checking to make sure that the 
occupants were not injured. Then he went on to the second vehicle, a 
truck, where fortunately no one needed assistance. Carrier Polnow 
continued to the third vehicle, a van used to transport handicapped and 
wheelchair-bound individuals, which was beginning to burn. The driver's 
airbag had deployed, and the driver alerted Carrier Polnow to a 
handicapped passenger still inside the smoke-filled van.
  With smoke continuing to circulate and flames erupting from the 
engine, Carrier Polnow went to work. He managed to free the side door 
that had been jammed by a ramp. Maneuvering the ramp into place, he 
unhooked the restraining belts and dragged the wheelchair--and the now 
terrified woman passenger--from the vehicle. Once free from the smoke, 
Carrier Polnow located the controls on the chair and engaged them to 
move the woman to safety.
  Acts of bravery and fortitude such as this should not go unnoticed. 
Carrier Polnow's heroism has led him to be recognized by the National 
Association of Letter Carriers with the National Central Hero Award. I 
am privileged and humbled to represent great constituents like Carrier 
Polnow, and I wanted to take this brief opportunity today, Madam 
Speaker, to let my colleagues know of his great act of courage.

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