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2012 SESSION

12103102D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 151
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 11, 2012
Commending the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad.
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Patron-- Iaquinto
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WHEREAS, in February 1962, a group of 23 concerned citizens from Bow Creek Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach established the Lynnhaven Volunteer Fire Company to meet the needs of the surrounding community; and

WHEREAS, in its first year of existence, the men incorporated the enterprise but had no fire or rescue equipment; in late 1962, the name was changed to Plaza Volunteer Fire Company in order to reduce confusion with other nearby fire companies that served this mostly rural area; and

WHEREAS, the volunteer fire company’s first heavy equipment purchase, in March 1963, was a 1946 Ford Maxim pumper truck that cost $500, and it was parked in the fire chief’s driveway because the dedicated group of firefighters had no station; and

WHEREAS, a month later, in April 1963, the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company’s second purchase was a sturdy 25-year old fire vehicle, a 1938 GMC skid pump truck, that was kept in another volunteer’s driveway until the company’s first building was completed five months later; and

WHEREAS, the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company’s first home was at the corner of Silina Drive and Rosemont Road on land donated by John Aragona; the company moved to its current home in 1967 and the organization’s name was changed to Plaza Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad; and

WHEREAS, due to an increase in the number of emergency response calls, the Plaza Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad purchased its first ambulance in 1965 and started a first-aid training program; today the squad has basic emergency medical technicians as well as EMT-paramedics; and

WHEREAS, the organization, now simply known as the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad, consists of highly trained volunteers who operate four state-of-the-art advanced life support ambulances and one heavy/technical rescue squad truck with active members volunteering at least 48 hours a month; and

WHEREAS, the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad’s members handle approximately 5,000 calls for service a year, which is an average of 17 calls for service per day; the Virginia Beach-based squad is proud to be part of the largest volunteer rescue squad system in the United States; and

WHEREAS, there are 94 active operational and administrative members of the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad who devote many hours to training and volunteer duty as they serve their Virginia Beach community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad on its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Plaza Volunteer Rescue Squad as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of its tireless service to the residents of Virginia Beach.