[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE TO GARFIELD TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2004

  Mr. STUPAK.  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
service and commitment of Bay County's Garfield Township Volunteer Fire 
Department. On May 1st, the Department will celebrate 25 years of 
serving their Northern Michigan community. The efforts of the men and 
women of the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department stand as an 
example to all of us, and I join the township residents in thanking 
them for all they do.
  Before their volunteer fire department was formed, the residents of 
Garfield Township had to rely on firefighters from nearby Kawkawlin. 
This meant that under the best of circumstances, it took at least 20 
minutes for help to arrive on the scene of a fire. Not content with 
this dangerous situation, Township Treasurer Ray Monison and Township 
resident Gary Fritz began organizing what would become the Garfield 
Township Volunteer Fire Department.
  Before long the Township approved a millage for training, equipment, 
and a pole barn. Volunteers rebuilt a pumper truck donated by the 
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the community came 
together to donate paint for the truck. By May 1979, the Garfield 
Township Volunteer Fire Department was up and running.
  Over the years, Garfield Township residents have supported their 
Department by approving additional millages, holding fundraisers, and 
donating their time. The Department has not only made Garfield Township 
safer, but brought the community closer together.
  Since 1979, over 100 Township residents have joined the Department, 
maintaining a steady roster of about 20. Today, the Garfield Township 
Volunteer Fire Department has 22 proud members, nine of which have been 
with the Department from the very beginning.
  Mr. Speaker, each of these people deserves individual recognition. 
The nine founding members of the Department still serving are: Wayne 
DeHate, Jerald DeLano, Terald DeLano, Ben Luptowski, Ronald Monison, 
Rodney Richmond, Gerald Rivard, Paul Smith, and Robert Umphrey. More 
recent additions to the Department are: James Gotfryd (21 years), James 
Dubay (20 years), Donald Cielinski and Terrel Wackerle (13 years), 
James Warren (12 years), Clarence Pelton (8 years), Steve Eddy (7 
years), Nicholas Smith and Stephen Smith (6 years), Dan Beyersdorf and 
Kelly Dearing (5 years), Scott Drake (4 years), and Ami Stender (2 
years).
  Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the efforts of the men and women of 
the Garfield Township Volunteer Fire Department should stand as an 
example to all of us, and I ask the House to join me in honoring them.

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