[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5546-H5547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LOUIS PASQUARELL, SR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, if you or other Members have ever been in 
my office, no doubt you've seen the fire helmets lining the walls.
  I must have a hundred of them.
  They are symbols of the enormous respect and admiration I have for 
volunteer firefighters.
  It's not just that I used to be a volunteer firefighter myself in my 
hometown of Queensbury, in upstate New York.
  It's more than that.
  I could sum up my feelings about volunteer firefighters in three 
words: Louis Pasquarell Sr.
  Mr. Speaker, Lou Pasquarell, Sr., is celebrating his 60th year as a 
volunteer firefighter.
  As you all know, I measure a man by how much he gives to his 
community. And Mr. Speaker, by that yardstick, Lou Pasquarell, Sr. is a 
giant among men.
  Let me tell you a few things about volunteer firefighters in general.
  These are ordinary citizens from all walks of life who represent the 
only available fire protection in rural communities like the one I 
represent.
  In New York State alone they save countless lives and billions of 
dollars worth of property every year.
  They surrender much of their personal time, not only to respond to 
fires, but to upgrade their skills with constant training.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, fighting fires is a dirty, exhausting, and 
frequently dangerous job.

[[Page H5547]]

  Volunteer firefighters approach that job with a selfless dedication, 
and the highest degree of professionalism.
  Typical of these volunteers, or, I should say, more than typical, is 
Lou Pasquarell, Sr.
  He joined the Jonesville Volunteer Fire Co. in Clifton Park 60 years 
ago.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no way to calculate the lives and property he 
has helped save in those 60 years, the number of hours he has spent in 
that effort, or the number of younger firemen he has inspired.
  Mr. Speaker, there are at least five other firefighters in the 
company who, when they were children, drove in parades in the miniature 
fire vehicle Mr. Pasquarell built for the Jonesville future 
firefighters.
  He has served on numerous committees, the board of directors, and on 
the police fire squad.
  He has been both a Lieutenant in the company and for many years the 
chairman of the district board of elections.
  In his capacity as Captain of the fire police squad, he was 
instrumental in placing the area's first fire police vehicle in 
service.
  He also organized a special event last Christmas at the firehouse 
through the adopt an angel program for a 6-year-old boy who suffers 
from a teminal illness.
  Mr. Speaker, Lou Pasquarell Sr.'s contributions go far beyond his 
firefighting.
  He also played a major role in building two bocci courts for use by 
Shenendehowa senior citizens on the pavilion on Main Street.
  Mr. Speaker, it isn't too often you get to meet a living legend. And 
that's what Lou Pasquarell Sr. is.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all Members to join me in saluting 
this great volunteer fireman, this great American, this man I am 
privileged to call a good friend, Louis Pasquarell, Sr., of Clifton 
Park, New York.

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