[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1106-E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE VIENNA VOLUNTEER FIRE 
                               DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2003

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Vienna Volunteer Fire 
Department.
  Established in 1903 at the behest of Vienna Town Councilman Leon 
Freeman, the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department has a long and 
distinguished history. Councilman Freeman served as the Department's 
first chief and remained active in the Department until 1936. Starting 
with his tenure and continuing to the present, the Vienna Volunteer 
Fire Department has consistently set the standard for fire safety in 
Fairfax County, having implemented a laundry list of groundbreaking 
fire safety initiatives. At the time of its founding, no other 
volunteer fire department existed in the region, making the Vienna 
Volunteer Fire Department the first of its kind in Fairfax County. It 
also acquired the first motorized fire protection in Fairfax County: a 
1919 Model T Ford truck.
  The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department exemplifies the success that can 
be achieved by volunteerism. Working together with Fairfax County Fire 
and Rescue Department career staff, volunteers provide professional 
emergency response capabilities to the Town of Vienna and surrounding 
Fairfax County. Supported primarily by citizen donations and 
departmental fundraising activities, the department was able to stay 
up-to-date by purchasing over $500,000 worth of equipment in 2002. The 
volunteers attend fire and medical training courses and host public 
education events during Kids Safety Week and Fire Prevention Week.
  In our nation's time of need on September 11, 2001, the Fairfax 
County career staff assigned to Vienna were deployed to the Pentagon to 
assist with fire and rescue operations.

[[Page E1107]]

To help cover both Vienna and other areas in Fairfax County during 
their absence, the volunteers staffed additional emergency medical 
units, playing a vital role in helping our community to cope with the 
crisis.
  Today, the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department consists of over 50 
active volunteer firefighters, EMTs and administrative personnel. The 
membership also includes 13 Life Members, each having served 20 years 
or more, and some having served more than 60 years. Their dedication to 
public service has been selfless, consistent, and invaluable to the 
region. Fairfax County is truly indebted to the assistance provided by 
the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. I ask that my colleagues join me 
in congratulating these outstanding individuals on their century of 
service.

                          ____________________