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By Jon Hughes
FireRescue1 Staff
 Photo by Jon Hughes, FireRescue1 Hal Bruno (left) receives the Motorola Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award at the CFSI’s annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington Thursday |
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A record crowd turned out for the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s 20th Annual Dinner, held Thursday at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.
As with last year, which paid tribute to Congressional Fire Services Caucus founder Curt Weldon, this year’s dinner bore a singular theme: honoring Hal Bruno, who has been a tireless champion of fire service causes on Capitol Hill for decades. In speech after speech, presenters touched on the achievements of Bruno, who retired this year as chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
The dinner, with the theme “A Generation of Progress,” trotted out the usual collection of fire service leaders and politicians. But it also adopted a slightly modified format, which for the first time incorporated entertainment in the form of singer/humorist Livingston Taylor and artist Michael Israel. Also missing from previous years was the presence of Bruno as emcee, giving way to Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The first honoree of the evening was Congressman David Price of North Carolina, who received the CFSI’s Legislator of the Year Award for his continued efforts to ensure adequate funding for first responders, including serving as a staunch advocate of both FIRE Act and SAFER grant programs.
Price, who serves as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, pledged to continue fighting for fire service funding to give first responders the tools they need.
FEMA Administrator David Paulison briefly addressed the crowd with thanks for the support he has received since taking the position 18 months ago. Noting that the process of reshaping FEMA has been “challenging, but rewarding,” he detailed the progress that the organization has made since he took office. Among the notable achievements, he highlighted the completion of the National Response Framework and doubling the size of FEMA’s workforce and funding.
Paulison also credited the thousands of firefighters for making their presence felt on Capitol Hill during the week, noting that his colleagues definitely took notice.
“They told me that there were a lot of firefighters banging on the door,” he said.
He closed with the news that Gary Briese, former IAFC Executive Director, has been named FEMA Regional Administrator in Denver, drawing a strong round of applause from the audience.
Senate majority leader Steny Hoyer took the podium next to introduce Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the evening’s keynote speaker.
Hoyer, a fixture at the annual event, reflected on the history of CFSI and the significance of the evening.
“We’re marking 20 years of recognition of just how much we owe to firefighters and first responders,” he said. “Your dedication does nothing less than let us sleep at night.”
 Photo by Jon Hughes, FireRescue1 FEMA administrator David Paulison addresses the audience at the CFSI’s annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington Thursday |
Hoyer then gave way to Pelosi, who has been a longtime champion of first responder causes. Pelosi said her perspective on the importance of firefighters was shaped by her father and brother, who both served as mayor of Baltimore.
She said both had made the same proclamation during their respective inauguration speeches: “Never forget the firefighters – they are always there for us.
“That’s how I was raised,” she said.
She hailed Bruno as one of the hardest working and most respected figures in Washington, harkening back to his days as political director for ABC News. She said whenever representatives from either party needed advice on an issue that would affect first responders, they would turn first to Bruno for his advice and perspective.
Following her speech, Pelosi was presented with an honorary fire helmet for her dedication to providing firefighters with funding and resources. She noted that the helmet would be displayed prominently in her office, and would no doubt thrill her six grandchildren – each of which dressed as first responders for Halloween this past year.
It was all a build up to the evening’s central event, the presentation of the Mason J. Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award to Bruno, who took the stage to a lengthy standing ovation after an introduction by William Jenaway, President of the CFSI Board of Directors.
Bruno opened with a joke about the 5-minute time limit for CFSI speakers, which he imposed when he was emcee of the event.
 Photo by Jon Hughes, FireRescue1 Artist Michael Israel performs to “Hero” at the CFSI’s annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington Thursday |
He thanked the NFFF and congress for enforcing the Hometown Heroes Act, and urged those in attendance to continue their vigilance in both honoring fallen firefighters and working to prevent future firefighting deaths.
“We all know that the fire service is dangerous,” he said. “But we must never accept a firefighter death as inevitable.”
He was joined on stage by his wife, Meg, who he credited for supporting him in his endeavors and putting up with some of the side effects of his role as a volunteer firefighter, illustrated in one anecdote.
“I crawled back into bed after a working fire, and she murmured, ‘Darling, you smell like a barbeque pit,’” he said.
The evening came to a close with a performance by Michael Israel, an ‘action artist’ who has gained fame through his rousing artistic performances set to music. With Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero” playing in the background, Israel theatrically painted a portrait of a firefighter rescuing a child.
Following the performance, the painting was auctioned off to benefit CFSI, fetching $15,000.