[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING LIEUTENANT JOSEPH A. LAPOINTE ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                RETIREMENT FROM THE FDNY CEREMONIAL UNIT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 2025

  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor 
Lieutenant Joseph A. LaPointe on the occasion of his retirement from 
the New York City Fire Department Ceremonial Unit, effective September 
15, 2025. This date marks the conclusion of more than four decades of 
distinguished public service and a career defined by leadership, 
compassion, and unwavering dedication to the FDNY and the people of New 
York City.
  Born in the South Bronx, Lieutenant LaPointe is the eldest of seven 
children. His father served as a firefighter in the Bronx and his 
mother dedicated herself to raising their family. He grew up in Great 
Kills on Staten Island's South Shore and now resides in Annadale with 
his wife, Linda, and their three children, Thomas, Teresa, and Tara.
  Lieutenant LaPointe began his distinguished career in civil service 
in 1982 as a New York City corrections officer. In 1984, he transferred 
to the New York City Police Department, serving as a police officer in 
Manhattan's Midtown North Precinct. In 1990, he joined the New York 
City Fire Department, assigned to Brooklyn Ladder 109. He was promoted 
to Lieutenant in January 2001 and became an instructor at the FDNY Fire 
Academy.
  On September 11, 2001--the darkest day in the history of the FDNY--
343 firefighters, along with 23 NYPD officers, 37 PAPD members, and 
thousands of innocent civilians, perished. In the immediate aftermath, 
the entire Fire Academy staff, including Lieutenant LaPointe, was 
assigned to the World Trade Center site for rescue and recovery 
operations. By the end of that month, he and other academy instructors 
were reassigned to the FDNY Ceremonial Unit to take on the monumental 
and solemn responsibility of planning and executing the funerals and 
memorial services for all 343 fallen firefighters.
  Funerals and memorials were held six days a week, sometimes with as 
many as 20 services in one day. In October 2001, Lieutenant LaPointe 
was asked to lead the ceremonial team handling services in Brooklyn and 
Staten Island. On December 31, 2001, he was assigned to Ladder 114 
``Tally Ho'' in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, while continuing his work with 
the Ceremonial Unit.
  In 2004, he became the Executive Officer of the Ceremonial Unit, and 
in 2007, he was appointed its Commanding Officer. In that role, he has 
overseen a staff of more than 400 fire and EMS officers, firefighters, 
EMTs, and paramedics, managing over 800 events annually, including 
graduations, promotions, parades, and, most importantly, line-of-duty 
funerals.
  Lieutenant LaPointe's leadership, compassion, and unwavering 
dedication have left an indelible mark not only on the FDNY, but on all 
of New York City. His 43 years of public service exemplify the highest 
traditions of honor, duty, and selflessness. I am proud to represent 
him in Congress and to call him my constituent.
  Beyond his service in uniform, he is a proud board member of the 
Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports catastrophically injured 
members of the Armed Forces and assists the families of fallen members 
of the military, law enforcement, fire, and EMS services.
  Mr. Speaker, few individuals can say they have stood beside thousands 
of grieving families and lifted them with dignity, respect, and love. 
Lieutenant LaPointe has done so for more than two decades, and in doing 
so, he has become part of the very soul of the FDNY. On behalf of a 
grateful community, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 
Lieutenant LaPointe's extraordinary career and in offering our deepest 
gratitude for a lifetime of selfless service.

                          ____________________