By Daniel L. Bamberg
The heart of what is perhaps our nation’s most valued trait, volunteerism was honored recently at the 6th Annual Brierfield/Dry Valley Volunteer Firefighters Awards Banquet in the University of Montevallo’s Ann Irvin Hall on Saturday, February 5th.
This ceremony pairs Bibb County’s Brierfield Volunteer Fire and Rescue with the Dry Valley Fire Department of Shelby County.
The banquet began with the presentation of colors and the pledge of allegiance, lead by Pelham Fire Department. Local radio personality, Dollar Bill Lawson explained, “Communities tend to take firefighters for granted, especially the volunteers. In spite of that, these firefighters show up every time. That’s priceless. You (to the firefighters) are giving us your most precious commodity – your time and lives here on earth, just to help someone else. Helping others gives you more meaning in your own life.”
BVFR Chief, Spruce McRee, often expresses his appreciation for the volunteers he leads as well as the pride in doing such a job for the love of community rather than for occupation. He began his personal remarks with statements reflecting such a mentality.
Fire Chief John McGrath of Raleigh, N.C. was also on hand to give words of his own which included a lot of shop talk and education for the rookies – tales passed down from firefighter to firefighter.
McGrath struck his central Alabama compatriots successfully with a humoristic simile. “Being a firefighter is a lot like being Peter Pan,” he explained. “You never have to grow up, and you’re always protecting those who can’t protect themselves.”
“This is not an easy job, especially for volunteers,” stated McGrath. “In volunteer firefighting, there’s no pay, no compensation and no expectation of reward, but what greater privilege can there be than protecting those who cannot protect themselves? From one professional to another, thank you. Never forget how dangerous your job is. Get home to your families.”
McRee and Dry Valley’s Fire Chief Kevin Lucas ended the evening with awards presentations to honor extraordinary firefighters and auxiliary members.
“Each of you are heroes, not for what you’ve necessarily done, but for what you’re willing to do,” McRee said.
Brierfield Volunteer Fire and Rescue was founded in 1973 in order to provide fire coverage for the Brierfield community and surrounding areas. In 2009 Station II was founded in Six Mile to expand the coverage to that bordering community. BVFR being so nearby Shelby County, services portions of that county as well. BVFR not also provides EMS rescue for their areas of coverage.
The volunteer organization is also an investor and owner of the new Shelby County fire Training Facility in Calera.
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