[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ``STAR OF LIFE'' AWARD RECIPIENT FRANCISCO ``CISCO'' 
                                PRECIADO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HARRY E. MITCHELL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. 
Francisco ``Cisco'' Preciado, to whom the ``Star of Life'' medal, a 
national award which recognizes the country's most outstanding 
Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians, was re-presented.
  Previously a member of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coastguard, Mr. 
Preciado started his career as a paramedic in 2005. His efforts 
established him as a dependable worker who was one of the best and 
brightest in his field. In 2009, his hard work under Southwest 
Ambulance was recognized in the form of the prestigious ``Star of 
Life'' medal. Preciado gave away his medal earlier this year, in a 
touching tribute to a friend and co-worker--EMT Mark Vernick--who was 
killed in a motorcycle collision. In what he thought was a private 
tribute, Preciado placed his medal in Vernick's casket.
  I extended this honor again not only to commend his performance as a 
paramedic, but to pay tribute to the quality of his character. Mr. 
Preciado unselfishly placed his original medal inside the casket of his 
friend and co-worker, Mark Vernick. This action speaks to the strength 
of his integrity. It is for this reason that I offered Mr. Preciado a 
replacement ``Star of Life'' medal.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the presentation of the 
``Star of Life'' medal to Mr. Francisco Preciado.

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