[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5662]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING FIREFIGHTER RICHARD SHELTRA

  (Mr. PITTENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Firefighter 
Richard Sheltra of the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department.
  Firefighter Sheltra died a hero while battling a fire on April 30, 
but he was a hero long before he volunteered to step into that burning 
building.
  Firefighter Sheltra had service in his blood. He had great examples 
because his parents were also volunteer firefighters, all dedicated 
Christians attending Forest Hill Church.
  Whenever the call went out, Firefighter Sheltra dropped whatever he 
was doing to go help. So strong was his commitment to serve and protect 
the families involved that he was often first on the scene.
  Firefighter Sheltra was Pineville's Rookie of the Year in 2015. He 
was in the process of applying to the Charlotte Fire Department when he 
died at the age of 20.
  While Mr. Sheltra was an excellent firefighter, he was an even 
greater servant of God. Please join me in praying for Firefighter 
Sheltra's family and the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department during 
this time of immense grief and, also, asking God to protect all of the 
brave men and women who serve our communities each and every day.

                          ____________________