Finally, let me again express my gratitude, and the gratitude of the
people of Maryland, to all of you for coming to this Conference. In
particular I wish to thank those of you who have come here from other
parts of the country to help us with this problem. As the Governor
of Maryland, and on behalf of all Marylanders, I welcome you, then,
as you gather for this 1965 Conference on Fire Prevention.

ADDRESS, MARYLAND STATE FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION

OCEAN CITY

June 22, 1966

Attending these meetings of the Maryland State Firemen's Associa-
tion has become for me like celebrating a birthday, a wedding anni-
versary, or a big holiday like Christmas. It is a pleasure I would be
most reluctant to forego.

There is a sameness about these conventions, of course, but it is
not the kind of sameness that breeds tedium. One does not tire of
seeing old friends, and certainly I have many, many old friends in
this organization. This seventy-fourth annual meeting of our Asso-
ciation does — from my point of view, at least — differ from the meet-
ings of the past few years in that it is the last that I shall attend in
my capacity as Governor of Maryland. I don't believe I need remind
anyone in this audience that my service to our State in that capacity
ends next January — next January 25, to be precise. But I was coming
to these Association conventions long before I became Governor of
the State. With your kind consent, I hope to be coming to them for
many more years.

It would be worse than repetitious for me to say again this year
how much I have enjoyed the friendship with the members of this
Association and how much I have profited by my association with
the organization. You have been most kind to me over the years.
I sincerely hope that in some small way I have been able to reciprocate
this kindness.

Through long interest and association, I think I have developed
an understanding of the problems which confront you who are charged
with the responsibility of protecting the citizens of our State against
the menace of fires. With such an understanding, I have watched
with growing satisfaction the gigantic strides that have been made
in providing a greater measure of fire safety for the people of Maryland.

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