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Recognizing the 2023 Graduates of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department High School Firefighter Program

Floor Speech

Date: Aug. 29, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2023 graduating class of Fairfax County High School Firefighter program. In 2016, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools created its High School Firefighter Program to provide training to students who are considering a career as a firefighter.

Students who participate in this program attend courses taught by qualified instructors at the Fairfax County Fire Academy. In fact, they receive the same training as new professional and volunteer firefighters. The course is grueling but upon successful completion, the students will earn a Virginia Certification as Firefighter I & II and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. Should these students decide to apply to the Fairfax County Fire Academy, this program will make them competitive candidates and will have prepared them for recruit school.

Fourteen seniors and one junior are graduating as the Class of 2023 of the High School Firefighter Program. It is my great honor to include in the Record the names of the following graduates:

Sydney G. Bates; Braden A. Dasher; Callie J. Desrosier; Alec T. DiLeonardo; Ian S. Dingman; Regan N. Kelley; Peter D. Mangone; Connor J. Marshall; Casey W. Martin; Hunter J. Piotrowski; Eric S. Verrier.

Mr. Speaker, the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department is 1 of the best fire departments in the country and in the world. I commend the department as well as the public school system for partnering in the creation of this program. I also applaud these young people for their desire to learn more about the department and for their interest in protecting our community. Northern Virginia is fortunate to have such dedicated young citizens. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating these students on their successful completion of their program and in wishing them great success in their future endeavors.

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