[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING JOHN DAVID MERCER FOR HIS HEROIC ACTION IN SAVING LIVES

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2011

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of the 
House the heroic efforts of a constituent of mine whose quick thinking 
saved lives during a recent pre-dawn Mobile, Alabama motel fire.
  On the early morning of December 21, 2010, John David Mercer, a staff 
photographer with the Mobile Press-Register, was driving home after 
shooting the historic lunar eclipse when his eye caught sight of 
another target. While glancing over at the battleship USS Alabama, a 
local landmark, Mr. Mercer noticed thick white smoke billowing from a 
nearby motel roof. He quickly headed to the building in hopes of 
capturing some news photos when he realized no one else was aware of 
the blaze. At that point, he alerted the motel manager, sounded the 
fire alarm and sprinted upstairs to awake the motel guests. At one 
point the flames reached 40 feet in the air, yet Mr. Mercer continued 
to knock on doors.
  Fire and police soon arrived and the motel was fully evacuated 
avoiding any injuries in the fire. The motel owner credited Mr. Mercer 
with saving lives and helping to prevent further damage to the 
building.
  For his heroic action, Mr. Mercer was presented the Citizen Valor 
Award by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Additionally, he was given 
the National Press Photographers Association's Humanitarian Award.
  A recent Press-Register editorial honoring Mr. Mercer said it best: 
``These days, the title `hero' is tossed about too casually and too 
often. However, we consider it fitting in this case. John David Mercer 
is a hero because he got into the game when he didn't have to, and 
because he placed the welfare of others above his own without being 
asked.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my voice to those who have praised 
Mr. Mercer's selfless act on that early December morning. He truly 
deserves to be called a hero.

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