[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 15889]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO NORMAN TATE: DELAWARE'S FIREMAN OF THE YEAR

 Mr. BIDEN. Madam President, over the past year, our Nation has 
endured heartbreak and celebrated heroes, especially the members of the 
fire service who, in a very profound sense, became the face of America 
on that fateful day last September.
  In my State of Delaware, we celebrate a very special hero of our fire 
service, Norman Tate, who has been chosen as the 2002 Delaware 
Volunteer Fireman's Association Fireman of the Year.
  The truth is, Norm Tate has earned this award--and could have 
received it deservedly--in any number of years. He has been a 
firefighter with the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department since 1959, and 
now holds Life Member status. He has served in, literally, every 
administrative office of his department, and on the ambulance squad; he 
has twice been named Seaford's Fireman of the Year--the only member 
ever, in a century-long history, to receive the award more than once, 
and again, he could have received it, and deserved it, just about any 
year.
  Norm has also been the Fireman of the Year for Sussex County and for 
the Delmarva Volunteer Fireman's Association, and was instrumental in 
setting up the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's Association, DVFA, State 
Conference. He did the hard organizational and persuasive work of 
committee chairman, and has been honored with the title of President 
Emeritus of DVFA.
  Beyond the fire service, Norm Tate has been a leader in the Seaford 
Lions Club, and received the Lion of the Year Award. He also received 
the ``Voice of the Blue Jays'' award for outstanding service to the 
Seaford School District, and the Distinguished Service Award from the 
City of Seaford.
  In short, Norman Tate defines citizen-leadership. He is the 
extraordinary ordinary American who becomes a hero, not by ambition but 
in response to the needs of his community and his country. He has a 
deep sense of responsibility, as well as pride, arising from his 
citizenship; he looks for opportunities to help; he undertakes service 
as a privilege.
  Norm Tate is being honored as Delaware's Volunteer Fireman of the 
Year, as his beloved Seaford Volunteer Fire Department celebrates 100 
years of service to the community. There could not be--at Seaford or in 
any fire company a more appropriate honoree in such a meaningful 
anniversary year.
  Norm Tate is, quite simply, the best, and as the fellow citizens he 
has served so well, we in Delaware are proud to honor him; as his 
friend, I am privileged to know him, and blessed by the influence of 
his generous and gracious spirit.

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