MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Montgomery

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THEIR COURAGE, BRAVERY AND HEROIC MEASURES AFTER SURVIVING THE AMTRAK TRAIN WRECK.

WHEREAS, three young men from Clinton, Mississippi, displayed courage and bravery after surviving the Amtrak train wreck on March 15, 1999, in Bourbonnais, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, a group of Clinton students were on their way home from a 10-day spring break skiing trip in Quebec, Canada, when the Amtrak train careened off the tracks after slamming into a truck loaded with steel bars at a crossing 50 miles south of Chicago, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, after the crash, the train was silent only for a moment before survivors screamed in fear during the horrible tragedy; and

WHEREAS, amidst the wreckage of the car the students were in, Michael Freeman, a junior at Clinton High School, calmly and carefully searched for an exit; and

WHEREAS, after opening a door, Michael Freeman found what appeared to be power lines, so the young man continued his search for another exit and found a window; and

WHEREAS, Michael Freeman built a ladder from broken chairs while Caleb McNair and Jeffrey Sartor, also of Clinton, began searching in the darkness for victims and assisting in their rescue; and

WHEREAS, these three young men risked their lives in a dangerous situation among smoke, fire and deadly destruction to save the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, most of the Clinton students involved in the Amtrak train wreck escaped serious harm with only bumps and bruises; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend heroism, especially when evidenced by the courageous and brave young people of this state, who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the Clinton students for their courage, bravery and heroic measures after surviving the Amtrak train wreck.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Clinton students and members of the Capitol Press Corps.