[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE FAIRFAX CITY PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS 
                        ASSOCIATION, LOCAL 2702

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 1998

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on May 16, 1998, the Fairfax City 
Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, Local 2702, is 
celebrating their 20th Anniversary. No matter what the emergency is, 
their members are committed to providing outstanding emergency services 
to those in need. They are dedicated to fulfilling their organization's 
goals of saving lives, preserving property and the environment and 
ensuring the health and safety of our community.
  Local 2702 was officially chartered on May 16, 1979 as a local union 
of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The 22 charter 
members were: Dennis Rubin, Larry Retzer, John Boon, Joel Hendelman, 
Mike Kalasanckas, John Long, Dwaine McCollum, Donald Barklage, Jr., 
Robert Keith Cunningham, Joseph Toy, Thomas Schwartz, Jeffery Sheriff, 
Joseph Bailey, George Brown, Charles Johnson, George Klumph, William 
Burris, Kenneth Hill, Dennis Rust and Gary Jones.
  Since their inception, they have been led by strong leadership 
focused on ensuring that their department has the personnel and 
resources to safely and efficiently perform their jobs of helping the 
public. Dennis Rubin, John Boon, Ken Hahn, Richard Miller, Joel 
Hendelman, Frank Hall, and Jay Callan have served as President. Today, 
President Adrian Munday leads Local 2702 in serving the needs of the 
City of Fairfax's 20,000 residents.
  The members of local 2702 respond to an astounding 8,000 fire and 
emergency calls a year. That's an average of 22 calls a day, which 
equals to almost one call per hour.
  When not answering calls for help, Local 2702's members spend 
countless hours in the community teaching fire prevention, CPR, and 
other safety courses, conducting home safety inspections, installing 
fire detectors, and conducting child safety seat inspections. 
Furthermore, they support several charities, such as: Aluminum Cans for 
Burned Children, Muscular Dystrophy Association's Fill The Boot 
Campaign, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Fairfax Little League, 
Braddock Road Youth Clubs, the International Association Fire Fighter's 
Fallen Fire Fighter Fund, and Heros Inc.
  Local 2702 also answers the call for help from other Fire Departments 
in need around the country during times of crises. Last year, when 
North Dakota was devastated by rushing waters of a terrible flood, 
Local 2702 spent several days running calls for many of their fire 
departments so their fire fighters could return to their homes to be 
with their families and salvage their homes. When Hurricane Andrew 
touched down in Homestead, Florida, Local 2702 collected clothes and 
helped rebuild homes in this ransacked area. After the tragic bombing 
of Oklahoma City, Local 2702 provided financial assistance to families 
with children injured by the blast.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives, I salute these heroes of public service. For all their 
extraordinary services, we owe the members of Local 2702 a debt of 
gratitude.

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