[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28769]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE WESTMORELAND 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 Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department for their 
selfless dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and 
night.
  The Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1958. The 
department members logged over 1,600 training hours in 2006, and the 
department responded to 148 calls for fire and rescue services and 
assistance on emergency medical situations. The department has 23 
members.
  Without volunteer fire halls, like Westmoreland, 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 
Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Mark 
Jenkins, Asst. Chief Tim Shelton, Scott Vantrease, Rick Myers, Phil 
Crook, Kevin Bandy, Todd Camp, Jon Pullen, Christina Pullen, Tim 
Reagan, Brad Penick, Eric Harrison, Jason Graves, Larry Gross, Tommy 
Kirby, Brandon Gross, Sean Milam, Brandon Carter, Jermey Akins, Brent 
Simons, Greg Carr, Megan Harrison, Devin Branham, and Troy Moss.

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