[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31828]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE BELL BUCKLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the 
members of the Bell Buckle Volunteer Fire Department for their selfless 
dedication and bravery in protecting our families, day and night.
  The Bell Buckle Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1950 
with 15 firefighters, a chief and a truck. Currently, the fire 
department has 20 volunteers on its training roster and is building an 
addition to the Fire Hall that will house six trucks.
  Without volunteer fire halls, like Bell Buckle, 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 Bell 
Buckle Volunteer Fire Department deserve recognition: Chief Mary Lokey, 
Deputy Chief Ronnie Lokey, Deputy Chief Dave Fisher, Richard Miller, 
Brian Wafford, Brian Lokey, John Crosslin, Jenna Gragg, Matthew Joseph, 
Nathan Gragg, Jason Rieben, Matthew Gragg, Travis Miller, Robert Gown, 
Leo Wilcox, Whitt Ross, Ken Del Villar, Adam Prince, Cain Owens and 
Daniel Gragg. Also listed on the training roster are retired Chief 
James Elkin and Phillip Daniel, Gone But Not Forgotten.

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