[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING CHIEF PATRICK PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK BERGMAN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2024

  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, Chief Patrick Parker grew up in Petoskey, 
Michigan as the oldest of 11 children and carried with him from a young 
age a sense of duty and responsibility. In high school, Chief Parker 
played football for the Petoskey Northmen, was a Proud Eagle Scout of 
Troop 7, and graduated in 1979. Chief Parker then attended North 
Central Michigan College where he earned an Associate's Degree an later 
received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lake 
Superior State College.
  Chief Parker started his fire service career in 1983 as a volunteer 
and morphed into a part-paid/on-call firefighter and EMT. He filled 
many roles such as Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion 
Chief; and in 2004, he was promoted to the rank of full-time Deputy 
Chief. On January 1, 2006, Parker became the Chief of the Grand 
Traverse Metro Fire Department, encouraging his members to foster an 
atmosphere where everyone is empowered to give their best and live up 
to the credo: Omnis Cedo Domus--Everyone Goes Home.
  Additionally, Chief Parker is involved professionally in the Michigan 
Association of Fire Chiefs Board, Northern Michigan Fire Chiefs 
Association Board, Grand Traverse County Local Emergency Planning 
Committee, Local Planning Team and 911 Advisory Board. Chief Parker is 
the founding member of MI-Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 3701, 
which at the time of its founding included all of Region-7. He is the 
chairperson of the MABAS-Michigan Special Operations Work Group, the 
State's Urban Search and Rescue Team, overseeing Michigan Task Force-1. 
Chief Parker was Michigan's representative to the Great Lakes Division 
(GLD) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and he 
currently is the immediate past president of the GLD.
  Always looking for new ways to help his community, Chief Parker is 
involved with many local boards and committees, serving as the 
President of the American Red Cross--Northern Michigan, Camps and 
Services member of the Rotary Club of Traverse City, board member of 
the Rotary Camps & Services with the Knights of Columbus No. 9979, and 
board member of the Michigan Crossroads Council--Boy Scouts of America. 
He is the founding member and President of the Grand Traverse Region 
First Responder Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization founded to find 
solutions to the unmet needs of the region's first responders.
  Chief Parker is also a dedicated husband, enjoying 39 years of 
marriage to his wife Michelle and their 3 golden retrievers. In his 
spare time, he is known for being an avid hiker, hunter, and Great 
Lakes boater, and he enjoys camping and snowmobiling in the wintertime.
  Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Chief Patrick Parker on an 
exemplary career and legacy of giving back to his community. I thank 
him for his humble service and wish him and his family the best in 
their future endeavors.

                          ____________________