[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 150 (Friday, November 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO RIVERSIDE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 1, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the tragedies that befell our country on 
September 11, 2001 claimed many lives. The impact of this loss of life 
rippled out across this great land of ours. These ripples brought back 
waves of support from our friends and allies across the world. However, 
the sweat and labor of those who toiled to rescue our fallen, take care 
of the injured and clean up the destruction left behind in the 
aftermath belong primarily to the good people of America.
  The communities of Riverside County, California, have always had a 
giving spirit. The attacks of September 11 brought out the members of 
the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 6 from our own 
communities of Riverside County. One of eight task forces commissioned 
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and coordinated through the 
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Riverside USAR Task 
Force 6 consists of highly motivated and expertly trained search, 
medical, rescue and technical specialists and are utilized as resources 
to local communities and work directly for the local fire department 
commanders.
  Riverside can be proud of its USAR Team, which was part of the first 
Task Force groups to arrive at ``Ground Zero'' in New York City. They 
departed from March Air Reserve Base at 10:45 the evening of September 
11 to assist the rescue efforts. Riverside USAR arrived at McGuire Air 
Force Base in New Jersey and were immediately escorted by police to New 
York City.
  These men and women belong to a very special group, and the memories 
unique to their experience at Ground Zero will remain with them all 
their lives. They will always remember those who paid the ultimate 
price. I pray that we will never forget the profound debt of gratitude 
we owe to them, and to all who responded by giving their best in this 
time of the Nation's great need. Their acts of bravery and their 
commitment to the Nation and to their fellow men exemplify the highest 
and best tradition of fire and rescue workers everywhere.
  Now that they are safely home in Riverside County, I join the 
community in paying them special tribute. We as a nation commend 
Riverside USAR Task Force 6 and thank them for their selfless courage. 
They have made us proud.
  Therefore, it is with great pride that I submit the following names 
of volunteers from the Riverside Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 
Team: Division Chief Dave Austin, Riverside Fire Department (RFD); 
Engineer James Avina, Norco; Eng. Fred Bayer, RFD; Captain Steven 
Beach, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF); 
Capt. Gary Beese, RFD; Eng. Walt Bleszczad, RFD; Eng. Greg Bluma, RFD; 
Capt. Steve Brooker, CDF; Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Buckley, CDF; FF 
Anthony Burciago, RFD; Eng. Raymond Center, Corona; FF/Paramedic Darryl 
Cleveland, Corona; Eng. Roland Cook, PSPFD; FF/Paramedic B. Scott Dall, 
Norco; Capt. Frank deBoer, Norco; Capt. Richard F. Egerman, CDF; 
Battalion Chief Mike Esparza, RFD; Eng. Greg Feinberg, RFD; Eng. Todd 
Fetters, Hemet; Shana Gattas, OES; Capt. Mark Gilman, Norco; Eng. Todd 
Gooch, RFD; David Graves, REC; FF/Paramedic Peter Habib, RFD; Div. 
Chief George Hall (Retired); Paul S. Haynie, AMR; Eng. LaWayne Hearn, 
RFD; FF Wayne Hess, RFD; Eng. Tim Heying, RFD; Capt. Clarence Homer, 
CDF; FF Scott Huchting, RFD; FF Scott Hudson, Hemet; Bill Hughes, 
BECHTER; Capt. Dirk Jensen, RFD; Capt. Steven Jeremiah, RFD; Eng. Jorge 
Juarez, CDF; Capt. Mike Koury, RFD; Capt. Gary Lane, Hemet; FF Andy 
Lanyi, RFD; Capt. Don Lee, RFD; Capt. Dave Lesh, RFD; Eng. Robert 
Linden, RFD; John Linstrom, FRWORD; Eng. Charles Luna, RFD; Capt. Randy 
Malacarne, RFD; Joe Manzo; Dr. Landy Mazur; Eng. Dave McClellan, RFD; 
Sheila McKee, OES; FF/Paramedic Steven McKinster, RFD; Eng. Lauren S. 
Miller, Corona; Eng. Tim Rise, RFD; Capt. Jerry Rodman, CDF; Dr. Peter 
Sanders; Karl Sauer; FF Steven Scotti, RFD; Batt. Chief James 
Snodgrass, Hemet; Eng. Charles Tasker, CDF; Eng. John Thomas, Murrieta; 
and, Scott Underwood.
  Thank you, my friends, for your kindness, decency, sweat and tears. 
You are patriots in your own right. God bless.

                          ____________________