[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING HEROES DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 16, 2015

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Southern 
Arizona's annual Heroes Day celebration, an occasion where we pause to 
reflect on the brave law enforcement and first responders who serve our 
state and put their lives at risk every day. For the seventh year, we 
recognize Southern Arizona's heroes for their extraordinary responses 
to traumatic crises.
  Today, in the United States, more than 900,000 law enforcement 
officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of 
others. They serve with valor and distinction--and with great success. 
Every day, countless lives are saved and touched by first responder 
units.
  As a native of Tucson, Arizona, I am privileged to know personally 
these incredibly courageous and compassionate men and women. I have 
learned that being a first responder is not about what you do, it's who 
you are. From Firefighter Adam Kroger, who worked with bystanders to 
lift the driver of a semi-tractor trailer with lacerations and a 
compounded fracture out of his vehicle to safety, to Deputies Adrian 
Gallo and Joe Serrano, who risked their own safety to save a woman with 
life-threatening injuries after a head-on collision, today's honorees 
are joined by an innate sense of service and duty.
  I wish to congratulate Heroes Day Winners Firefighter Adam Kroger 
from the Golder Ranch Fire District, Deputy Adrian Gallo and Deputy Joe 
Serrano from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, Officer Robert 
``Bobby'' Kelly and Stephanie Kelly, RN, from the Tucson Police 
Department, and Aaron Romero, Alexander Stewart, and Andrew Miles on 
this prestigious honor. I also congratulate Honorable Mentions Jose 
Madrigal from CBP Tucson Sector Border Patrol, Deputy Don Molchan from 
the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and Firefighter Ryan Szach from 
the Golder Ranch Fire District. And finally, thank you to the local 
businesses and people of Arizona who take their time and energy to make 
this special day of recognition possible.
  The commemoration ceremony on October 15, 2015 will be a day in which 
we acknowledge the history, achievements, contributions that first 
responders have made for Southern Arizona, and we are eternally 
grateful for their service to our community.

                          ____________________