[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNITION OF RAYMOND FLOWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2003

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Mr. 
Raymond Flowers of Centralia, IL. Upon his death at the age of 100, 
Raymond held the status of oldest retired firefighter in the state of 
Illinois.
  Towards the end of World War II, the Centralia Fire Department faced 
a significant shortage of firefighters. Many of Centralia's men had 
enlisted in the military and were serving our country in Europe and the 
Pacific. To help alleviate this shortage, Raymond decided to leave his 
job as a truck driver and in 1944 became one of many who filled in for 
the firefighters who were deployed overseas. He stayed with the Fire 
Department for another 20 years, until his retirement in 1964.
  Raymond received little formal training or instruction in 
firefighting. Instead, he learned on the job, fighting fires with the 
members of the east side fire station in Centralia.
  The Centralia Fire Department and many of the citizens of Centralia 
honored Raymond at his funeral.
  Raymond's career as a firefighter is just one example of the 
thousands of contributions to our nation made by members of the 
``Greatest Generation.'' It is my prayer that all Americans would learn 
to make the same selfless sacrifices made by those citizens.

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