[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22889]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GIRARD BASTIEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
the career of Girard Bastien, an outstanding member of our eastern 
Connecticut community. After six decades of service in the Baltic Fire 
Department, in Baltic, Connecticut, Girard will commemorate his 
retirement with family and friends on October 25, 2008 with a 
celebratory dinner.
  As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Girard's commitment 
to public service began early in life. In August 1948, between service 
in WWII and the Korean War, Girard joined the Baltic Fire Department 
and launched a lifelong career that would span six decades. During his 
career, Girard achieved the rank of Deputy Chief, was a member of the 
New London County Fire Chiefs' Association, and served as the Sprague 
Tree Warden between 1954 and 1990. Additionally, Girard was the head of 
the Baltic Fire Department kitchen and orchestrated weekly bingo event 
in recent years.
  Support from his wife of 62 years, Jeanette, as well as his sons, 
Dennis and Edward have made his career a long and fruitful one.
  Madam Speaker, Girard's lifetime of public service has and will 
continue to inspire our eastern Connecticut community, and I ask my 
colleagues to join with me and my constituents in recognizing and 
celebrating this service.

                          ____________________