[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 128 (Thursday, October 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR GOALS AND IDEAS OF DAY OF TRIBUTE TO ALL 
                              FIREFIGHTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
476, legislation Expressing Support for the Goals and Ideas of a Day of 
Tribute to All Firefighters. When I recently visited the Bethesda Fire 
Department, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, the Glen Echo 
Volunteer Fire Department, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department, 
the Rockville Fire Department, and the Silver Spring Volunteer Fire 
Department, I witnessed an amazing bond of brotherhood among the 
firefighters, the Auxiliary Team, and the Emergency Medical Technicians 
(EMT's). Fire Departments are much more than just buildings that house 
employees. They are truly places of community. Firefighters are much 
more than colleagues to one another. They are truly members of an 
extended family. At many of the firehouses, I saw married couples, 
their parents, and their children at their monthly meetings brought 
together by a sense of tradition, honor, family, and love. Tradition 
and honor is so apparent, any volunteer or career firefighter can tell 
you the history of their department and the history of their community.
  Many would tell you that the last fallen firefighter in Montgomery 
County, Maryland was Jim Nicewarner. In 1977, as he was transporting an 
individual to George Washington Hospital, the medic unit he was riding 
in was tragically struck by another car. Many say he wasn't supposed to 
be working that night. He was substituting for another medic from 
another department. The overwhelming consensus among the firefighters 
in Montgomery County is that's what is done for one another.
  I am very proud of my Hometown Heroes of Montgomery County. It is 
important we recognize that these firefighters, as well as all 
firefighters across the Nation, were heroes long before September 11. 
They will continue to be heroes each day they risk their lives to save 
our own. It is time we pay tribute to those who are ready in a moment's 
notice to make the ultimate sacrifice, so that our community and our 
nation is a safe place to live.

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