[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6798]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING FIRE CHIEF MATT AKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2011

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the tragic 
loss of Fire Chief Matt Aker of Portland, Indiana.
  Chief Aker began his career in public service as a volunteer with the 
Portland Fire Department in July of 1997. He joined the force full time 
in 2002, was appointed Assistant Fire Chief in 2005, and then served as 
Fire Chief.
  Chief Aker's list of accomplishments and certifications are extensive 
and include: EMS-First Responders, Fire Inspector I and II, Fire 
Investigator I, Technical Rescue Awareness, Fire Officer I, Ice Rescue, 
Rope Rescue, Hazardous Material Incident Command, Hazmat 1st Responder 
Awareness and Operations, ECI Fools, American Heart Association CPR and 
AED, Chairman of Membership of IFCA, Adhoc with ceremonies at Emergency 
Conferences, Portland's Representative for DPC, District 6 Co-Chair for 
Fire Task Force Element and Jay County's Representative to Region 6 
Fire Training Council.
  He was also the Captain of the Jay County Sheriff Reserves, a member 
of Emergency Response Team, the Portland Rotary Club, the Portland 
Morning Optimists and the American Red Cross.
  In the midst of such tragedy, let us pray for God's comfort for the 
Aker family and cling to the words of the Good Book which says that 
``in all things God works for the good.'' I offer this comfort and my 
deepest condolences to Chief Aker's wife Brooke; parents, Mike and 
Linda Aker; Grandmothers, Maxine Aker and Rosie Hutchens; two brothers, 
Brad and Chad Aker; sister, Lori Ferguson; and his nine nieces and two 
nephews.

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