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[Pages S1665-S1666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE FIRE AND RESCUE SQUAD
Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I want to take a moment to recognize the
brave and selfless individuals from the St. Michael's College Fire and
Rescue Squad, based in Colchester, VT. These young men and women
respond to emergencies on a moment's notice to help those in need--all
while balancing the demands of their full college course load. St.
Michael's College Fire and Rescue helps bring a greater degree of
safety to residents in Chittenden County, and we are thankful for their
efforts. Today, I would like
[[Page S1666]]
to commemorate their 50 years of service.
St. Michael's Fire and Rescue Squad was founded in late 1969, after a
local student died while waiting for emergency medical services to
arrive. The community recognized that in order to prevent further
tragedies of this nature, greater resources must be dedicated to
emergency responders. Students rose to this challenge, and with the
help of Donald ``Pappy'' Sutton, the former dean of students, they
formed the squad. Despite starting out with only minimal equipment,
this remarkable group now serves 385 square miles of Chittenden County,
spanning their reach into surrounding towns and along 26 miles of
Interstate 89. The territory covered far exceeds what we might expect
from a group of college volunteers, but their capacity to serve only
goes to show just how dedicated the St. Michael's Fire and Rescue team
truly is.
Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this team is the fact
that they are all between the ages of 18 and 22. The maturity and grace
displayed by these young individuals while fulfilling their duties is
nothing short of inspiring. These are people who, for some, have just
left home for the first time and yet are successfully responding to
crisis situations which would tax even the most experienced of us.
These responders will sometimes be the first on the scene for a car
crash, overdose, fire or medical emergency, and a split-second decision
could make the difference between a life saved and a life lost. And we
should not forget: these responders are all students managing their
college classes in addition to volunteering. Emergencies give no
credence to a student's sleep schedule; sometimes these students will
get woken up in the late hours of the night or early hours of the
morning to put out a fire, despite having class the following morning.
Those who receive credit for their volunteer work are on call for 24
hours a week, taking turns sleeping in the designated volunteer bunks.
The work done by the St. Michael's Fire and Rescue team is not always
glamorous, but it has kept the community remarkably safer. On average,
the squad responds to more than 3,000 calls each year--some just false
alarms, others far more severe in nature. But what has remained
consistent is the relief that these volunteers have offered to local
emergency responders and the peace of mind they have bestowed upon our
residents. By offering support to our hard-working first responders,
they inevitably ensure that more Vermonters get the help they need in
the nick of time. In the process, they have inspired other college
campuses around the Nation to form their own volunteer response teams,
who can then help their own communities in times of need.
This is the type of bravery and selflessness that we are proud to see
exemplified in our young citizens, and I am honored to have them
recognized today.
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