[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18684]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   MEMORIALIZING FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2001

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Joint Resolution 42, the ``Fallen Firefighters Act of 2001.'' As the 
author of the bill I am proud to be able to help honor our 
firefighters. This legislation serves as a remembrance to the heroic 
men and women who have died in the line of duty by requiring the 
American flag on all federal buildings be lowered to half-staff one day 
each year on the observance of the National Fallen Firefighters 
Memorial Service. This year's service will be held this Sunday, October 
7 in Emmitsburg, MD, at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. 
President and Mrs. Bush are scheduled to attend the ceremony.
  This year's service will be especially emotional in the wake of the 
terrorist attack on America where hundreds of brave men and women gave 
their lives to save those of thousands of strangers. I have personally 
visited the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and continue to be 
amazed by the work these men and women continue to do on a daily 
basis--and the work they have done that has saved thousands upon 
thousands of lives. I continue to be touched as I attend numerous town 
ceremonies in the wake of the tragedy by the support both for 
firefighters in our communities and their unwavering dedication to 
their communities, fellow firefighters, and our country.
  Firefighters provide one of the most valuable services imaginable to 
this country--that of saving lives and safeguarding our precious lands. 
With integrity, firefighters preserve the safety in the communities 
they serve with tireless dedication and commitment. These heroes need 
to be recognized and thanked by all Americans, not just in the wake of 
this horrible tragedy but to the nearly 1.2 million men and women serve 
our country as fire and emergency services personnel on a daily basis. 
Firefighters are our first line of defense in both natural and man made 
disasters walking into burning buildings and battling forest fires with 
determination and defiance.
  Approximately one-third of our nation's finest suffer debilitating 
injuries each year making it one of the most dangerous jobs in America. 
Furthermore, approximately 100 men and women die in the line of duty 
every year--many are volunteers. Since 1981, every State in America, as 
well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, has lost firefighters 
serving in the line of duty. Since 1981, the names of 2,077 fallen fire 
heroes have been added to the Roll of Honor. Ninety-six men and women 
who lost their lives in 2000 will be honored in October. This year, the 
name of Arnold Blankenship, Jr., of Greenwood, DE, will be placed on 
the 2000 memorial plaque. Sadly, Mr. Blankenship is not the first 
firefighter in Delaware to be memorialized. He will join H. Thomas 
Tucker, James Goode, Jr., W. Jack Northam, and Prince A. Mousley, Jr.
  Lowering the flag on federal buildings one day a year will remind all 
Americans of the patriotic service and dedicated efforts of our fire 
and emergency services personnel. In October 2002, the over 300 
firefighters who lost their lives in the attack on America will also be 
honored at the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service, along with 
81 of their colleagues who also died in the line of duty during 2001, 
and sadly that number may grow by the end of the year. It is important 
for this legislation to be in place to honor all these heroic men and 
women who have served our communities and our Nation. These men and 
women work tirelessly to protect and preserve the lives and property of 
their fellow citizens. Through this legislation, we can show our 
support and respect for America's fire heroes and those who carry on 
the noble tradition of service.
  We must always remember the contributions of all of our public safety 
officers. In 1962, Congress passed a joint resolution honoring 
America's police officers who died in the line of duty in recognition 
of their dedicated service to their communities and amended it in 1994 
to lower the flag to half staff in memorial. Today, we take the first 
step in bestowing the same respect on the 1.2 million fire and 
emergency services personnel who also serve as public safety officers. 
I would like to thank all the members who sponsored this legislation 
and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and recognize 
these heroic men and women.

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