Somerset County Volunteer Fire Departments

But sound aloud the praises, and give the victor-crown
To our noble-hearted Firemen, who fear not danger's frown

~ Frederic G.W. Fenn, "Ode to our Firemen," 1878

It is that time of year again when the volunteers from our county fire departments and EMS have their annual banquets. I so love these people. They are always there for any type of emergency and in any kind of weather.

Two weeks ago, with a ton of snow and ice on the roads, the hearty volunteers of the Crisfield Fire Department did not let the weather cancel their banquet. I thought about not making the trek to the firehouse, but the thought of knowing that if our house had been on fire in such weather they would not have whined about the weather and road conditions. They would have beaten a path to my door. And so I beat a path, a slow path, to their door.

This weekend I covered the Fairmount banquet.

Thank you to the men and women, and cadets, who serve our county so well. All photos have been posted on the staff photo gallery at my newspaper's web site (see menu bar to the left).

Crisfield

 This is Chief Bill Reynolds, who is a retired Coastie (Coast Guard) and his lovely wife Kathy. Super people!

 Fairmount

 Chief Emory Ford and his wife Terry. Ford is the new Fairmount chief for the year 2010.

So as you look at the firefighter with his rake, hose or axe,
His beet red face or ice covered mustache,
You should know why he goes through that smoky front door,
And is forced to crawl like a baby down on the floor.
He does it to save both lives and property,
All that is precious to you and to me.
So take a good look at this modern warrior who serves his call proud and true,
And know that he would die just to save me and you.

~ Robert J. Athans

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please support your local fire departments.

 _________________________________

BTW, at the Fairmount banquet I got on the other side of the camera to have my photo taken with Donnie Howard, left, of the Marion Fire Department (their banquet is coming up soon - I'll be there),  James Ring, past-president of the Somerset County Commissioners, and Somerset County Commissioner James East. I cover so many events that I feel like I am around family sometimes. Thanks to everyone who is just as sweet as apple pie to me - old Georgia saying.