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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the |
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founding of the Mineola Fire Department, and this milestone |
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provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to this esteemed |
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organization; and |
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WHEREAS, On May 1, 1907, pharmacist Sidney L. Bradford |
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officially organized the Mineola Fire Company, and its members |
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began the task of conducting fund-raising activities to purchase |
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equipment; the need for such an organization had been evident for |
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some time; in 1880, shortly after Mineola was founded, a |
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devastating inferno destroyed 18 buildings in the downtown area in |
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the course of just one night; and |
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WHEREAS, In its early years, the Mineola Fire Company |
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transported all its gear in wagons that were pulled by the members |
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or, when possible, by horses; a motorized truck was not purchased |
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until the mid-1910s; though the technology may have been relatively |
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simple at that time, firefighting was an important and dangerous |
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endeavor, and company members approached their jobs with great |
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seriousness; volunteers had to apply for admission to the company, |
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and those who failed to respond when summoned to duty faced stiff |
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fines or dismissal; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally a private organization, the fire company |
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became a city department in 1924 and purchased a new fire engine and |
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a small pumper unit that same year; despite the use of city funds to |
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outfit the department, all firefighters were unpaid volunteers for |
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many decades; by the 1940s, the fire chief was drawing a small |
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salary of $10 per month, and the first salaried regular members were |
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added in 1954; nonetheless, volunteers continue to form the core of |
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the Mineola Fire Department today, making up more than 80 percent of |
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its personnel; and |
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WHEREAS, Regardless of their employment status, department |
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members are highly trained experts who are certified through the |
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Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Firemen's and |
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Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; though the department |
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initially focused on fire response, it is now prepared to handle a |
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wide variety of emergencies; the staff includes emergency medical |
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service personnel, hazardous material technicians, underwater |
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rescue divers, fire and arson investigators, and personnel who are |
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adept in a range of specialized rescue procedures; and |
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WHEREAS, These committed public servants are carrying forth |
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the proud tradition of the Mineola Fire Department by using their |
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skill and knowledge to protect the lives and property of city |
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residents; for 100 years, the department's valiant firefighters and |
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emergency responders have made Mineola a safer place to live and |
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work, and their steadfast devotion to duty is deserving of the |
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highest respect; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Mineola Fire Department on the |
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centennial of its founding and commend its members for their |
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dedicated service to the city; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the department as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Hughes |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1388 was adopted by the House on April |
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19, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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