Lenny Skutnik

Martin L. (Lenny) Skutnik III is celebrated for an act of heroism he performed following the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 on January 13, 1982. During the rescue operation of the Flight 90, one of the survivors, Priscilla Tirado, was too weak to grab the line dropped from a helicopter, so a bystander, 28-year-old government office assistant Lenny Skutnik, stripped off his coat and boots and, in short sleeves, dove into the icy water and swam out to assist her.

For this act Skutnik was commended by U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the annual State of the Union speech that was held later in the month. He was the first in what has become an annual tradition of notable people being invited to sit in the President's box at the State of the Union address.

Skutnik received the United States Coast Guard's Gold Lifesaving Medal and the Carnegie Hero Fund Medal for his efforts.

tate of the Union speech

Lenny Skutnik was invited to attend the State of the Union speech, which was held 13 days later. He sat next to the First Lady Nancy Reagan as the guest of President Ronald Reagan, who said,

:cquote|"Just two weeks ago, in the midst of a terrible tragedy on the Potomac, we saw again the spirit of American heroism at its finest the heroism of dedicated rescue workers saving crash victims from icy waters.""And we saw the heroism of one of our young Government employees, Lenny Skutnik, who, when he saw a woman lose her grip on the helicopter line, dived into the water and dragged her to safety."

Since then, others who are invited into the Presidential gallery and honored in the speech have been known among the Washington press corps as "Lenny Skutniks". The Presidential gallery is sometimes referred to as "The Heroes' Gallery".

ee also

*List of "Lenny Skutniks"

External links

* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42687 1982 State of the Union speech]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/sou.php All State of the Union speeches]