[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 63 (Friday, April 12, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E340-E341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE CAREER OF CHIEF ANTHONY ``TONY'' SACCONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2024

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a long 
time, career first responder from Eastern Connecticut, Chief Anthony 
``Tony'' Saccone. Chief Saccone has diligently served and protected his 
hometown, Ledyard Connecticut, specifically Ledyard's village of Gales 
Ferry. On Saturday April 13, 2024, Tony will be honored at a retirement 
celebration by his family, department colleagues and friends, 
recognizing his talented, faithful adherence to duty.
  Chief Saccone was born and raised in Greenbush N.Y. where he attended 
and graduated Watervliet High School. He was brought up in a large, 
loving family by his father who

[[Page E341]]

worked as a lineman, and his mother who stayed home to care for Tony 
and his six siblings. After graduation he volunteered to serve his 
country in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to serve on a destroyer based 
at Norfolk, VA. After an honorable discharge, he pursued further 
education and acquired an associate degree in Fire Science and 
Technology. He married his wife, Noreen, in 1987 and moved to Ledyard 
where they raised four children. His time in the naval service and his 
training in fire science, led Tony to pursue a career as a firefighter 
at the Submarine Base fire department. Unsurprisingly, he took to the 
task, and he continued to work at the Submarine Base as a firefighter 
for over 20 years. Mr. Speaker, the mission of the subbase department 
is very specialized, given the highly complex and value of A large 
fleet of fast attack submarines homeported there. Tony handled that 
portfolio with highest degree of professionalism and proficiency it 
required. Not one to settle for just that task, Saccone took it upon 
himself to take a second job at the Gales Ferry Fire Company, where he 
also excelled and has since tirelessly served his community up to this 
day.
  Chief Saccone's involvement in both fire departments extended beyond 
the details of his job description. He rapidly accelerated through the 
ranks and became the Fire Captain at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base and 
Chief of the Gales Ferry Fire Company. His leadership skills are 
exhibited in his character; as Captain and Chief of these departments, 
he prioritized mutual trust, respect, and communication between him and 
the crews. He led by example, expecting the same excellence of his team 
as of himself. His organizational skill proved to be an asset when 
Chief Saccone managed a $250,000 budget for Gales Ferry and balanced it 
each year since beginning his position as Chief in 2008. It is through 
the leadership of Saccone that Gales Ferry and the Submarine Base Fire 
crews can provide high quality service to their communities.
  As a natural leader, Chief Saccone recognized his potential to extend 
his service to his community and town from a political position. He was 
voted to the Ledyard Town Council, where he fearlessly advocated for 
the community as a whole and the Gales Ferry Fire Department. I had the 
honor to get to know Chief Saccone when he and I, from 2011 to 2021, 
worked together to advance the bipartisan Fire Police Fairness Act. 
Through his tireless advocacy alongside my office, Chief Saccone 
witnessed the signing of this bill by President Biden on November 18, 
2021 at the White House in Washington, DC. From 2017 to 2018, Chief 
Saccone and I began that legislative journey to extend police officers' 
death benefits to fire police officers. This legislation will ensure 
all firefighters' families get federal survivor benefits after serious 
injury or fatality. His passion and knowledge of the challenges first 
responders face were essential to secure successful passage of this 
law--even in the midst of a highly polarized Congress. This was a 
resounding bipartisan victory that reflected Americans' endless support 
for first responders.
  It was also a pleasure and honor for Chief Saccone to accompany me at 
President Biden's State of the Union Address in 2022. He is the true 
example of a selfless leader, someone who expects nothing more of 
others than the best, while expecting even more from himself. He raises 
others, is a team player, and an individual of incalculable quality. 
Chief Saccone's involvement in his community and country reflects his 
commitment to American democratic values For the sake of America, I 
hope that citizens see Chief Saccone's story and continue his legacy as 
unswaying champions of American democracy. Chief Saccone's newly found 
free-time will undoubtedly be dedicated towards his wife Noreen; four 
children, Anthony Jr., Julia, Lucas, and Emilie; and his children's 
respective families. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Chief Saccone's career.

                          ____________________