[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS

  (Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
brave firefighters, police officers, and first responders who 
selflessly ran into harm's way answering the three-alarm call to the 
devastating fire in my district at First Baptist Church Bossier City, 
Louisiana, on December 10, 2018.
  At 5:36 a.m., the Bossier City Fire Department responded to a fire 
alarm at the church. The call for a second alarm went out at 5:50 a.m., 
and the Shreveport Fire Department was called to assist at 6:15 a.m.
  During their efforts, there were a total of 30 firefighting units and 
65 fire and support personnel from Bossier City and Shreveport working 
to contain the fire and preserve the church.
  First Bossier has such an extraordinary history in our region, and 
its iconic steeple has been a landmark over Bossier for generations. My 
wife, Kelly, and I were actually married in First Bossier's Faith 
Chapel 20 years ago.
  We are so grateful there was no loss of life or major injury to 
anyone; and for the many extraordinary firefighters and first 
responders from Bossier and Shreveport who battled the blazes that day, 
we commend them for their heroic efforts, and we thank them for their 
service and sacrifice.
  We know the First Bossier family will pull together and recover from 
this tragedy even stronger than before. The Bible teaches that trials 
produce perseverance, character, and hope, and we believe that to our 
core. The mission of First Bossier will continue in earnest, and its 
best days are truly ahead.

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