[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF FIRE CHIEF PETER PHELAN

                                 ______


                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, June 12, 1996, the Milford 
Fire Department will hold a testimonial dinner to honor Chief Peter 
Phelan who is retiring. It is with great pleasure that I salute Chief 
Phelan and his distinguished career of service to the Milford Fire 
Department.
  Chief Phelan's career as a firefighter began in 1944 when he joined 
the Milford Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter with the former 
Myrtle Beach Volunteer Engine Company No. 3. He was following a long 
family history of firefighting for the town of Milford as both his 
father and grandfather had served in the same company. Chief Phelan was 
permitted to join even though he was only 17 years old and still in 
high school at the time. World War II had created a manpower shortage 
within the fire department so the chief's young age was overlooked.
  In November of 1948 Chief Phelan was appointed to the Career 
Department. He left briefly from 1951 to 1953 to serve with distinction 
in the Korean conflict. The chief's early career included work with the 
late Fire Chief Richard Coley to reorganize the old civil defense 
programs into the Milford Civil Preparedness Agency. Chief Phelan was 
responsible for preparing plans to put the city of Milford in line for 
Federal grant programs.
  In 1966, Chief Phelan was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He was 
promoted again in 1967 to the newly established rank of captain. The 
chief became a battalion chief in 1972 and, in 1977, became the 
assistant chief/fire marshal. When the department was reorganized, he 
was named assistant chief/operations. On January 1, 1996, he was 
appointed to the office of fire chief.
  Chief Phelan has earned a number of awards during the course of his 
career. The most outstanding awards are the Ryder Fireman of the Year 
Award and a bronze medal from the Connecticut Humane Society for his 
part in the rescue of a handicapped person from the second floor of a 
burning building. These awards illustrate Chief Phelan's dedication to 
firefighting and the safety of the residents of Milford. He is without 
doubt one of Milford's most important public servants.
  In addition to his involvement with a number of community 
organizations, Chief Phelan has served as chairman of the Connecticut 
Fire Marshal's Association's Annual Educational Seminar for the past 15 
years. He is also a member of the New England Division of the 
International Association of Fire Chiefs and was a member of the first 
group of the Fairfield County Arson Task Force. He is a past president 
of the Connecticut State Fireman's Association, has served as president 
of the Connecticut Fire Marshal's Association and has been a member of 
the board of directors of the New England Fire Marshals Association and 
the New Haven County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan.

  I am so pleased to join Chief Phelan's colleagues at the Milford Fire 
Department, his wife Catherine, and his children and grandchildren in 
congratulating him on his retirement. His departure is a great loss to 
the town of Milford and the Fire Department. I thank Chief Phelan for a 
lifetime of extraordinary service to the public and wish him enjoyment 
in his retirement.

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