HR0907 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0907 LRB094 19538 HSS 55630 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is the privilege of this Body to recognize a significant milestone in the history of an organization that has contributed greatly to the welfare of the people of our State; and

WHEREAS, The Peotone Fire Department was founded in the year 1881 and will celebrate its 125th anniversary this year; and

WHEREAS, In 1881, the Village of Peotone purchased its first fire engine and the department's first drill was held on April 15 that same year under the command of Captain John Fedde; the department bought a Model T fire truck in 1924, its first pumper in 1935, and the Peotone Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary was formed in 1953; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, the department had the first operational paramedics in Will County and in May of 1978, the Peotone Fire Protection District was established; and

WHEREAS, On August 14, 1978, the Peotone Fire Protection District accepted the Peotone Fire Department as the organization to protect the residents of the district from fire, promote fire protection and prevention throughout the district, and provide emergency medical services to the residents of the district; and

WHEREAS, The Peotone Firefighter Pension Fund was created in 1984, and in 1992, ground was broken for a new fire station; the new station was dedicated in memory of Trustee Gerald Borchardt in 1993; and

WHEREAS, The Department received a grant in 1999 to equip a hazardous materials squad and in 2002, the organization joined the Southwest Hazardous Material Response Team; other grants came along in 2002 and 2004, allowing the Department to purchase training materials, new hose, and various engine equipment, and to place a mobile burn building behind the station; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Peotone Fire Department has served the citizens of the area with distinction; in 2004, the Department received an ISO rating of 4 in the Village of Peotone and 8b in the rural area; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Peotone Fire Department on the occasion of the Department's 125th anniversary, and we thank them for their devoted service to the safety of the citizens of their area; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Peotone Fire Department as an expression of our esteem.