[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF HENRY SHILEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 21, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor my 
constituent of Middletown, Virginia, Volunteer Fire Chief Henry Shiley, 
who recently retired from the Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue 
Company after 53 years of dedicated service, and also to congratulate 
him on receiving the status of Fire Chief Emeritus, awarded to retired 
fire chiefs of extraordinary distinction.
  Middletown, Virginia, located in the northern Shenandoah Valley, is 
home to Lord Fairfax Community College and also the site of the Battle 
of Cedar Creek during the Civil War. However despite the college and 
strong history, Middletown would not be the close-knit, caring 
community that it is without the Middletown Volunteer Fire Station and 
its long-time leader, Chief Shiley.
  For 53 years, Chief Henry Shiley dedicated his life to his community 
without any compensation, regularly putting himself and his fellow 
volunteer first responders at risk as they attempted to aid people--
neighbors and strangers alike--during some of the most desperate 
moments of their lives.
  Over the course of his career, Chief Shiley has watched Company 12 
progress and grow immensely. What was once a small, volunteer unit has 
morphed into a group of volunteer professionals that have gone through 
extensive training, including becoming emergency medical services (EMS) 
certified.
  The members of Company 12 are proud of their reputation of excellence 
and professionalism and attribute it largely to their leader, Chief 
Shiley. In fact the group unanimously voted to grant Chief Shiley the 
status of Fife Chief Emeritus--a true testament to his extraordinary 
knowledge, steady leadership, kindness, and most importantly, sense of 
humor.
  On behalf of Virginia's 10th District, I thank Chief Shiley for his 
half-century of service to Middletown and the Shenandoah Valley. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Volunteer Fire 
Chief Henry Shiley for his years of selfless service and heroism and I 
wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.

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