[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE PORTLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2007

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the 
members of the Portland Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless 
dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night.
  The Portland Volunteer Fire Department serves 64 square miles of 
Sumner County outside the city limits. The department has received 3 
U.S. Homeland Department of Security grants.
  Without volunteer fire halls, like Portland, many places in the Sixth 
District would lack effective fire protection. In the state of 
Tennessee, over 70 percent of fire service is provided by volunteers. 
Among these volunteers, almost 75 percent work other daily jobs.
  Ensuring our families' safety is not without risk. Sadly, an average 
of 2 firefighters die each year in Tennessee in the line of duty. In 
2005, the Tennessee Fire Services and Code Academy dedicated a memorial 
on their main campus in Bell Buckle to honor those Tennessee 
firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
  For their willingness to serve, the following members of the Portland 
Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Kenny Crowson, 
Asst. Chief George Knuckols, Captain Richard Lanius, Lt. Jessica 
Knuckols, Lt. Bobby Wilson, Tony Green, Brent Dyer, Josh Covington, Tav 
Matthews, Arthur Benjamin, Samantha Roberson, Scott Meece, Lindi 
Costner, Williams Keen, Russ Caudill, David Roberson, and Jim 
Youngblood.

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