[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING DR. GRACIELA SARMIENTO OF ARROYO GRANDE, ROGER LYON OF 
   CAYUCOS, DR. JAMES THORTON OF ARROYO GRANDE AND CAL POLY SAN LUIS 
               OBISPO STUDENT AND PARAMEDIC ANDREW THIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2010

  Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. Last 
month, four cherished members of my community on the California Central 
Coast died when their plane carrying medical supplies crashed in 
Mexico. All four were participating in a humanitarian mission with the 
Flying Samaritans aid organization.
  The tragic loss of Dr. Graciela Sarmiento of Arroyo Grande, Roger 
Lyon of Cayucos, Dr. James Thorton of Arroyo Grande and Cal Poly San 
Luis Obispo student and paramedic Andrew Thiel has been of tremendous 
shock and heart-ache to our close community. That these four selfless 
and dedicated individuals would pass on so suddenly and in an act of 
such generosity is all the more painful.
  As our community grieves, we have pledged to honor the work of 
Graciela, Roger, James and Andrew in our own lives. In death, these 
remarkable people have reminded us in the most powerful and tragic of 
ways that life is short, and that genuine generosity knows no bounds.
  While they were at different stages in life, all four were known to 
their families, friends and neighbors as bighearted, intellectually 
curious and passionate about contributing to the community and world 
around them. In leading through example, Graciela, Roger, James and 
Andrew demonstrated that there are no limits when working to make this 
world a better place.
  I urge all my colleagues to celebrate the lives of Graciela, Roger, 
James and Andrew with their own acts of generosity and to pray for 
their surviving families and friends. Thank you.

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