[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WOOD COUNTY'S BRANT FREELAND

  (Mr. McKINLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is the most trying times that bring out 
the best in people. West Virginia has faced high water and floods over 
the past few weeks. Recently there was an act of heroism in Wood County 
that deserves recognition on the House floor.
  On their way home on Sunday, 15-year-old Brant Freeland and his 
mother pulled over to wait out high water blocking the road. Brant 
noticed a car caught in the rising water ahead of him. Not thinking 
twice, Brant bolted from his car to see if someone was inside.
  There he found 69-year-old Connie Boggs trapped inside with the water 
rising. He wrenched open the door and got her to safety.
  Connie said, ``If it wasn't for Brant, I would more than likely have 
drowned.''
  For his part, Brant said the last thing on his mind when he entered 
the water was being a hero. ``I was just worried about saving that 
lady's life. That is all.''
  Brant did more than that. He showed us the kind of courage that is 
too often missing these days.

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