[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E132]]
    HONORING FIRE CHIEF HOWARD D. ``JACK'' FRASER, NORWICH, VERMONT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETER WELCH

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 17, 2007

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
stand here before you today to celebrate the birthday of a great 
Vermonter, public servant, and friend.
  For more than 50 years Jack Fraser has made public service his way of 
life. Jack first joined the Norwich Fire Department in 1955. At the 
time, Jack was simultaneously enrolled at the University of Vermont and 
participating in the ROTC program. When he graduated in 1960, Jack was 
commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.
  Always one to take on the toughest challenges, Jack became an Army 
Ranger and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He continued in the 
military after he returned home, teaching as an ROTC instructor at the 
University of Vermont. He retired from the US Army Reserve in 1990 with 
the rank of Colonel, having served his country for 35 years.
  Meanwhile, Jack had continued his public service in the Norwich, 
Vermont Fire Department, becoming Fire Chief in 1995. Under the 
leadership of Chief Fraser, the Department modernized and improved its 
fire apparatus, its training equipment, its rural fire protection, and 
its rescue operations. Jack developed particular expertise in the field 
of hazardous materials, developing Norwich's first hazardous materials 
response plan. Largely as a result of his work, the town of Norwich 
earned one of the highest public protection classification rates in 
Vermont.
  Jack officially retired from his civic duties on December 31, 2006. 
Please join me today in thanking Jack Fraser for all he has done for 
his town, his country, and the state of Vermont.

                          ____________________