[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 40 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNIFORMED FIRE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY 
                              OF NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 
Uniformed Fire Officers Association in New York City (UFOA), which 
represents 2,500 lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, deputy 
chiefs, supervising fire marshals and medical officers of the New York 
City Fire Department. The fine officers represented by UFOA risk their 
lives daily to protect our community.
  On September 11, 2001 the New York City Fire Department lost a total 
of 343 members in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Among the lost 
were 254 firefighters, 89 superior officers, 45 lieutenants, 20 
captains, 17 battalion chiefs, 3 deputy chiefs and 2 staff chiefs. New 
York's Bravest also lost two of their most senior leaders, the Chief of 
the Department as well as the First Deputy Commissioner. Further adding 
to their devastation, the Catholic Champlain, the much-loved Reverend 
Mychal Judge, also perished.
  The men and women who comprise the New York City Fire Department, as 
well as the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, work so closely 
together, that they often think of and refer to one another as family. 
For many, the brave men who perished were more than colleagues: They 
were 343 members of their extended family.
  Since the disaster, the members of the UFOA have worked together to 
continue a long held tradition among fire personnel, by joining 
together to ensure that the immediate families of those who perished--
spouses and children--are cared for. They are also working to ensure 
that the brave legacy of the firefighters lost that day endures, and 
that the heroes of September 11th are never forgotten.
  UFOA is also working to ensure that veteran officers receive the 
support they need to rebuild their devastated agency. While the events 
of September 11th are unique, fires continue to threaten our community. 
The NYFD has done an outstanding job of pulling together to carry on 
with fighting some devastating fires that have broken out since 
September 11th. Their continued dedication and hard work deserves our 
strongest commendation.
  For the bravery exhibited by the members of the Uniformed Fire 
Officers Association on September 11, 2001, and for the bravery they 
exhibit every day they show up to work to protect the rest of us, I ask 
my colleagues to pay tribute to the members of the Uniformed Fire 
Officers Association and the invaluable contributions of the UFOA.

                          ____________________