TRIBUTE TO JONATHAN BLANCHARD

On 2026-08-04, Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO JONATHAN BLANCHARD" in the Senate.

TRIBUTE TO JONATHAN BLANCHARD

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 127 (Tuesday, August 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 127 (Tuesday, August 4, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4431] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO JONATHAN BLANCHARD Mr. WICKER. Madam President, on the evening of May 6, 2026, Jonathan Blanchard heard tornado sirens blare through his hometown Bogue Chitto, MS. A volunteer firefighter accustomed to responding to emergencies, Blanchard gathered his family and found shelter. Once the storm passed, he set out to assess the damage. A walk that would typically take minutes turned into a 2-hour trek through uprooted trees and storm debris. When he arrived at his home, Blanchard found it had been virtually destroyed. Instead of being paralyzed by his loss, he reached out and helped others. A short distance away, Blanchard heard cries for help. He sprang into action, followed the sound, and found a woman trapped beneath an overturned camper. He put his 30 years of emergency response experience to use. Blanchard and another neighbor carried the woman nearly a quarter mile to an ambulance, delivering her to safety. He continued his rescue efforts throughout the night. Like Mississippians across the State affected by the tornadoes, Mr. Blanchard could not sit by as his community suffered. That spirit characterizes his whole life. When he is not on duty at the Hog Chain Volunteer Fire Department, Mr. Blanchard works as a welder at Wastequip in Brookhaven. He and his wife Rebecca Blanchard have three children. Jonathan Blanchard's selfless service to his town is a true testament to his character and is an example to the State. I join my fellow Mississippians in saluting Jonathan Blanchard for his swift action and selflessness in the face of disaster. ____________________