Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E635-E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL HEROES DAY
______
HON. ED PERLMUTTER
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor heroes from the
theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. Twelve lives
were taken, seventy were injured, and hundreds suffered emotional
trauma. Yet even in this tragedy, we saw incredible heroism that
night--those who sacrificed themselves to save others, those who helped
others while badly wounded themselves, and lives that were saved by the
tireless efforts of first responders and medical teams.
These men inspired me to act on a National Heroes Day Resolution:
John Larimer, age 27, was a Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class and
cryptologic technician who was stationed at Buckley Air Force Base in
Aurora for about a year. He was murdered protecting his girlfriend and
his friend inside the theater, jumping into action to protect them once
the shooting began. John was the youngest of five siblings from Crystal
Lake, Illinois.
Jonathan Blunk, age 26, served his country in three tours in the
Middle East. His desire was to become a Navy Seal. He was at the
theater with a girlfriend when the shooting started and immediately
pushed her under the seats, saving her life. Jonathan was shot multiple
times and suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his heart. He left behind a
widow and two small children in Reno, Nevada.
Matt McQuinn, age 27, was in love with his girlfriend and wanted to
marry her and start a family. When the shooting began, he leaned over
his girlfriend to get her out of harm's way. She was shot but survived.
He was shot nine
[[Page E636]]
times; the most of anyone in the theater. He was survived by his
parents, brothers, and girlfriend in Ohio.
Alex Teves, age 24, was born and spent his early years in New Jersey
before moving to Arizona and then onto Colorado where he earned a
master's in psychology the month before he was killed. He counseled
kids with unique learning and emotional challenges at Humanex Academy.
He was murdered after pulling his girlfriend down to safety, leaving
himself exposed; a bullet hit him in the forehead as he whispered
comforting words of love. He was the oldest of three siblings.
After his death, Alex's parents, Caren and Tom, began the ``No
Notoriety'' movement asking that the media stop concentrating its
coverage on the shooters for the sake of public safety. This movement
is widely endorsed by law enforcement and on both sides of the aisle.
These individuals inspired me to introduce a resolution with my
colleagues from the Colorado Congressional Delegation to designate July
20th as ``National Heroes Day'' to honor their memory and all those who
save lives and improve their communities.
Those whose loved ones have been taken by horrific acts of violence,
have honored their memories with action and now ask us to do the same.
I will always remember the exceptional acts of courage displayed by
those in Aurora and will continue working with my colleagues to enact
meaningful reforms to prevent these horrific acts of violence.
____________________