[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24717-24718]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          CAPTAIN DURWARD LANG: 50 YEARS OF REMARKABLE SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 15, 2003

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, in August, 2003, Durward Lang retired as the 
Captain of the Fire Department of Buxton, Maine. Captain Lang's 
extraordinary service to the town began a half a century ago. He has 
held every rank from firefighter to Chief, and has been instrumental in 
many of the department's progressive changes. His contributions are 
remarkable in many respects, and reflect the can-do spirit of a man who 
has given his all to his community.
  For example, Durward purchased a used ladder truck on his own, 
refurbished it in his garage, and gave it to the Town of Buxton for $1. 
Not to be deterred, when the truck failed to pass inspection in 2000, 
he served on the committee formed to purchase another ladder truck.
  Durward and his wife, Janet, also started the town's emergency 
dispatch service in their kitchen. They hired people to man the phone 
24 hours a day. The service is now the 911 center for the Town. The 
Langs also ran the town rescue service together, spending many days and 
nights helping residents in trouble.
  Fortunately, Durward has been persuaded to remain in service. Since 
his retirement as captain, he has served as a fire truck driver.

[[Page 24718]]

I join the people of Buxton in thanking Durward and Janet Lang for 
their countless hours of service, and the model of civic involvement 
that they have established for all to emulate.

                          ____________________