[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E87]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CHIEF MURAWSKI BLAZES ON

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, all we need to do is think about the recent 
snow storms and floods to find real life heroes. Many of those heroes 
are firefighters, men and women who each and every day risk their 
safety for that of ourselves, our families, and our constituents. Fred 
Murawski has served the people of Bay City for the last 30 years as a 
member of the Bay City Fire Department, including the last 5 as its 
chief. Fred is retiring from this care of service, and is being honored 
at a retirement party next Tuesday, January 30.
  Fred Murawski has spent his life caring about people. The countless 
calls, the many moments of anguish when a few more minutes might have 
meant the difference in saving a home or a life, the moments of joy 
when property was saved or an injury spared, the flashes of frustration 
when someone refused to pay attention to the warnings of danger offered 
by an experienced public servant, all combine to describe a career that 
no one can forget.
  I know the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said ``The world, an entity 
out of everything, was created by neither gods nor men, but was, is and 
will be eternally living fire, regularly becoming ignited and regularly 
becoming extinguished.'' Fred Murawski had a chance to live the 
observations of that philosopher, knowing that but for the grace of God 
he might be extinguished by the fire, rather than being the 
extinguisher of fire. His lifetime membership in both St. Stan's A.C. 
and St. Stan's Ushers Club, as well as his involvement with the parish 
council provided him with the solace that he needed after the demands 
of his work.
  His dedication to his community also included service as a member of 
the Bay County Sheriff's Department, where he rose to the rank of 
sergeant. It included a proud tenure as a member for 17 years of the 
Bay County Democratic Executive Committee, including being its past 
chairman. His dedication to his profession urged him to become involved 
in a number of associations, including the International Fire Chief's 
Association, the Michigan Fire Chief's Association, the Southeastern 
Fire Chief's Association, the Bay County Fire Chief's Association, the 
Bay County Fire Fighter's Association, the Third District Emergency 
Management Association, and the Michigan Emergency Management 
Association.
  I am sure that his wife Madeline and his daughters Rebecca and 
Cynthia were glad when the end of each day came and Fred was able to 
return home safe from harm. His grandchildren Gregory, Scott, and Mark 
Bokhart have probably heard a number of stories of dangerous thrills 
from their grandfather, and can look forward to years of many more.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the thousands of lives who were touched by 
the dedication to duty of Bay City Chief Fred Murawski, I urge you and 
our colleagues to join me in thanking this wonderful man for a career 
of caring for the public, in wishing him the happiest of retirements, 
and the best for whatever new challenges his life may bring.

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