Courtney Thanks Veterans' Transportation Volunteers

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney stopped by the Enfield Fire District station on Weymouth Road Monday to say thank you to volunteers from the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network.

Courtney cooked a breakfast of pancakes and sausages for the volunteers, who provide free transportation to the veterans' hospitals in Newington and West Haven five days a week.

"It's a program which is done through the Disabled American Veterans," Courtney said. "The VA provides the vans and gas money, but it's the volunteer drivers who make it work. It's a long drive, particularly for some of the older veterans, and these volunteers commit a lot of time and effort. These guys don't get paid a penny for their time, and it's the least we can do to say thank you."

At the conclusion of the breakfast, Lt. Brian Ellis of the Enfield Fire Department presented Courtney with a certificate of thanks for his efforts in helping secure a pair of steel beams from the . The beams are now part of the department's 9/11 Memorial Garden.