Congressman Brendan Boyle Honors Beloved Norristown 12 Year-Old

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-13) spoke on the House Floor today to honor Sanford Harling III. The 12 year-old boy who died tragically after running into a burning house to rescue his bedridden father. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:

LINK TO VIDEO HERE: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4580409/sanford-harling-honored-floor-us-house-representatives

“Mr. Speaker I rise today in honor of Sanford Harling III, a widely-known and widely-loved young man from Norristown, Pennsylvania in my district, affectionately known as “Man Man. Sanford tragically died after he selflessly dove back into the flames of his burning home to rescue his father, who had been bedridden while recovering from hip surgery. Unbeknownst to Man Man, his father had already escaped through a second-story window.

“Although this courageous 12-year-old never re-emerged from the smoldering ruins of his home, his memory now resonates well beyond his community thanks to his remarkable act of heroism. Although the honor and recognition that Sanford deserves cannot return him to the embrace of his family, perhaps his shining example will inspire other deeds of life-saving bravery and devotion. He will forever be remembered as a hero. I offer my deepest sympathies to the Harling family, and to everyone who knew and cherished this young man’s character.”