[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21844]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE B.F. HOXIE ENGINE CO. NO. 1

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                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 6, 2000

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate the B.F. Hoxie 
Engine Co. No. 1 of Mystic as it celebrates 125 years of service of its 
community. The B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1 has been, and continues to 
be, a tremendous asset to residents throughout Mystic.
  Since its inception in 1875, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1 has 
played an important and crucial role in protecting the community from 
fire damage. The company has been responsible for responding to and 
extinguishing several major fires during its operation, including the 
Noank Shipyard fires of 1890 and 1898.
  Today, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1 stands as a pure example of 
the evolution of firefighting. Jumping directly into the new 
technologies of firefighting, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. was one of the 
first fire departments to introduce the use of the compressed air 
breathing apparatus for firefighters. The company utilizes the latest 
and most advance equipment available, including a thermal imaging 
camera to quickly locate the heart of a fire, a laser to measure 
surface temperature and a Biosystems PhD meter to detect gases in the 
air.
  Powered only by volunteers, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1 is 
responsible for founding Mystic's first ambulance service, providing 
EMT service and responding to highway accidents and other emergencies, 
as well as hosting a weekly fish frying fund-raiser during a portion of 
the year to benefit the activities of the department.
  Volunteer firefighters are true American heroes. They give their time 
and their energy to protect our families, our homes and our treasures. 
Some brave volunteers make the supreme sacrifice every year to save 
their neighbors and to make our communities safer.
  Mr. Speaker, the members of the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1, past and 
present, exemplify these qualities every day. I join with residents 
throughout Mystic and southeastern Connecticut in congratulating the 
B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. No. 1 on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

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