Celebrating 74 Years Of The Addison County Fire Fighters Association
By Cookie Steponaitis
|
The conversation was flowing and the handshakes a plenty as the doors opened to the annual Addison County Firefighters Association dinner and meeting. Over 300 local firefighters in dress uniform, stood, sat and milled around the Eagles Club of Vergennes. The sense of fun was at the center of the conversations but always not too far off from the mind’s eye are the tone of a pager and needs of community members facing an emergency. It has occurred that entire departments have had to leave their plates of food and respond during the very meeting that is scheduled to celebrate, remember, document and bring people together bound by one common thread- service to others. This night was no exception as one department quickly and efficiently stood and left as tones called them on to help others.
Governor Phil Scott has been a part of these annual festivities for the past six years and never fails to demonstrate his understanding of the unique level of commitment, training, colleagueship and purpose that binds seventeen departments and their members in the Addison County Firefighters Association and shared in his opening remarks, “I don’t know where we would be without our volunteer firefighters.” Governor Scott has put together a team possessing the same qualities of volunteer firefighters in his administration citing what he called the ‘Four C’s’- character and integrity, competency, commitment and chemistry as the formula for success. “With the right attitude and right ethics, these people get the job done.” Governor Scott concluded that Vermont is a special place where community spirit, getting things done and helping others are hallmarks of the people who call this state home. He closed his welcome with thanks to the ACFA members for showing how success is more than equipment and training. It is a mindset and a conscious decision to work as a team and serve a common good-the life of others.
While modern in its training and practices for fighting fires and emergency rescue, the fire services continue to be steeped in traditions dating back over one hundred years. One such tradition displayed each year is the ringing of the bell for those firefighters who have been lost during the year in remembrance of their gifts, time and have laid down their gear and gone home for the last time. Many departments this year suffered losses and the jovial nature of the group turned quiet and solemn and when heads were raised tears were to be seen on many faces. Joined in service as a family, the loss of one is felt throughout the departments. When a leader passes, the grief cascades through the ACFA and firefighters draw on each other to make it through the loss.
In the midst of the annual meeting were a series of awards now in their 39th year that recognize departments and individuals for outstanding service to the ACFA and the community. This year’s awards included-
•The donation of $500.00 by the Red Knights to the Ray Davison Training Fund.
•The Turpin Award to the ACFA department with the best attendance to meetings and trainings: Weybridge Fire Department.
•Chief Ralph Jackman Youth Firefighter Award of the Year: Danielle Morse of New Haven Fire Department.
•Emergency Vehicle Maintenance Technician Award of the Year: James Robideau of the Bristol Fire Department.
•Firefighter of the Year Award- Jeff Cousino of Lincoln Fire Department.
•Senior Firefighter of the Year Award- Peter Bouvier of Bristol Fire Department.
•Bob Jenkins Line Office of the Year Award- Corey Collette of the Addison Fire Department.
•The Francis Sharkey Chief Officer of the Year Award- Bill Sinks of Weybridge Fire Department.
•Friends of ACFA Award- Basin Harbor Club
•ACFA President’s Award- Karen Taylor
•ACFA Life Membership- Rob Gaboriault
In addition to these memorable honors, the ACFA named the 48th Annual Regional Fire School to be held on April 28-29th at Vergennes Union High School in honor of former chief Bob Jenkins. Rounding out the honors was special recognition of eight members of ACFA who have achieved fifty years of fire service and are still active in their respective departments. They included Les Champine- Vergennes, John Palmer- New Haven, Jim Ford- New Haven, Phil Grace- Addison, Steve Torrey- Addison, Bernard Dubois- Addison, Norman Cota- Starksboro and Tom Estey- Starksboro.
With the naming of the new slate of officers: ACFA president: Randy Stearns, Vice-president : Myron Selleck, Treasurer: Karen Moore, Secretary: Paul Hoffman, Auditor: John Hughes, County Representatives: Dean Gilmore, Will Elevell, Ray Davison Training Foundation Representative: Bill Scott, the evening concluded with a resounding agreement of all members present. For the next year, it will be business as usual. They will train, respond to our calls for help, support each other in times of celebration and grief, teach and share with each other and demonstrate how a team works. They will run toward danger and be there to hold our hands in time of need. The Addison County Firefighters Association is approaching its 75th anniversary and the seventeen departments under its umbrella share a simple but incredibly powerful belief. They serve because they can and because there is a need. As former ACFA leaders Ray Davison, Ralph Jackman and Bob Jenkins were all fond of saying, “Firefighters lead with their hearts and are there to serve.” How blessed we all are to live in a place where this belief is demonstrated, passed on and celebrated.