[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I wish to discuss a heart wrenching 
tragedy that occurred in my home State earlier this week and to 
acknowledge the heroic efforts of our local first responders. On Monday 
evening, under sweltering temperatures that had surpassed 100 degrees, 
two Shreveport families gathered on the banks of the Red River, in 
Shreveport, LA, to enjoy a picnic. What is normally a routine summer 
outing for millions of people across America quickly turned into a 
disaster.
  Seven teenage children from these two families had wandered off into 
an unfamiliar part of the river. One of the children stepped off of a 
sand bar and into deeper, more dangerous water and began to scream for 
help. The other six children followed in an attempt to rescue the 
drowning teen. None of the seven children knew how to swim, nor did the 
adults who were with them. As the seven children struggled for their 
lives against the treacherous waters of the Red River, witnesses called 
911 for help.
  Teams of first responders from Shreveport and Bossier City were 
dispatched and arrived on the scene at 6:30 p.m., roughly 10 minutes 
after the 911 call was made. Dive teams entered the water four at a 
time in search of the drowning children. Despite the tremendous efforts 
of the divers, the river's waters claimed the lives of six of the seven 
children. The lone survivor was rescued by a bystander named 
Christopher Partlan, before the dive teams could get to the area.
  At 7:51 p.m., the first of the victim's bodies was recovered from the 
water. This unthinkable task continued for more than 2 hours before the 
last of the victims was recovered at 10:02 p.m.
  At this time, I would like to read the names of the first responders 
from Shreveport and Bossier City who were dispatched to this tragic 
accident:
  Captain John Davis; Fire Engineer Craig Bynog; Firefighter Jared 
Mourad; Firefighter Chad Alexander; Battalion Chief Tim Thames; and 
Fire Engineer Jimmy Lockey of the Shreveport Fire Department. Officer 
Phillip Tucker of the Shreveport Police Department; Fire Driver Chad 
Arnette of the Bossier City Fire Department; and Christopher Partlan, 
the bystander who rescued 15-year-old DeKendrix Warner.
  All these brave men deserve to be recognized for their heroism. First 
responders in Shreveport and Bossier and in cities and towns across 
America protect our communities every day. We depend on them during 
fires, floods and other disasters and they put their lives on the line 
to save ours. For that, we owe them a debt of honor and gratitude.
  I would also like once again to send my condolences to the Warner and 
Stewart families for their tragic loss. I know the Shreveport community 
will wrap its arms around them and pray for them, comfort them and 
support them during this difficult time.

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