[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 140 (Tuesday, August 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E799-E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 2023 GRADUATES OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE 
               DEPARTMENT HIGH SCHOOL FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 29, 2023

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2023 graduating 
class of Fairfax County High School Firefighter program. In 2016, the 
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in partnership with Fairfax 
County Public Schools created its High School Firefighter Program to 
provide training to students who are considering a career as a 
firefighter.
  Students who participate in this program attend courses taught by 
qualified instructors at the Fairfax County Fire Academy. In fact, they 
receive the same training as new professional and volunteer 
firefighters. The course is grueling but upon successful completion, 
the students will earn a Virginia Certification as Firefighter I & II 
and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. Should these students 
decide to apply to the Fairfax County Fire Academy, this program will 
make them competitive candidates and will have prepared them for 
recruit school.
  Fourteen seniors and one junior are graduating as the Class of 2023 
of the High

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School Firefighter Program. It is my great honor to include in the 
Record the names of the following graduates:
  Sydney G. Bates; Braden A. Dasher; Callie J. Desrosier; Alec T. 
DiLeonardo; Ian S. Dingman; Regan N. Kelley; Peter D. Mangone; Connor 
J. Marshall; Casey W. Martin; Hunter J. Piotrowski; Eric S. Verrier.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department is 1 of the 
best fire departments in the country and in the world. I commend the 
department as well as the public school system for partnering in the 
creation of this program. I also applaud these young people for their 
desire to learn more about the department and for their interest in 
protecting our community. Northern Virginia is fortunate to have such 
dedicated young citizens. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating these students on their successful completion of their 
program and in wishing them great success in their future endeavors.

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