[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16450]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 16450]]

          IN HONOR OF THE DEDICATED FIRE PERSONNEL OF DELAWARE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2001

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to twenty 
Delaware firefighters who bravely and unselfishly traveled to the State 
of Washington state to help combat the Wenatchee National Forest 
wildfires. The group was comprised of seven firefighters from the 
Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service and thirteen from 
various fire companies in Delaware.
  Firefighters provide one of the most valuable services imaginable to 
this country and its people--that of saving lives and safeguarding our 
precious lands. With integrity, firefighters preserve the safety in the 
communities they serve. These brave men and women have demonstrated 
their community is not limited to the State of Delaware, but their 
commitment extends to the nation as a whole. Every year, firefighters 
are injured, and even die, in the service of their esteemed duty. 
Firefighting is one of the hardest jobs imaginable, and it is 
frequently rewarded only by the satisfaction that they have made their 
communities safer.
  Mr. Speaker, allow me to recognize here these men and women 
individually for their service and valor. The firefighters are Teri Guy 
of Camden; Todd Gsell of Chestertown, Maryland; Kevin Hauer and Mike 
Valenti of Dover; Kevin and Todd Schaffer of Downington, Pennsylvania; 
Mike Brown of Hartley; Andrew Mathe of Hockessin; Erich Burkentine of 
Lewes; Sam Sloan of Millsboro; Guy Cooper of Millville; Matt Dotterer 
of Milton; Glenn Gladders, Chris Gorzynski, Mike Puglisi and Steve 
Reeves of Newark; Josh McGrath and Mike Sethman of Smyrna, Franny Cole 
of Townsend and Nikki Waller of Wilmington.
  It is often said that nothing is bigger than the heart of a 
volunteer. I think that is especially true for these dedicated men and 
women of Delaware who serve not only our state, but protect the nation 
as whole. For all their courage, their strength, their selflessness, 
and their dedication, I salute each and every one of them.

                          ____________________