Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Life Members’ Dinner

Each year, the life members of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department have a dinner to celebrate the members that have attained 25 years of active membership with the department.  May 10th was this year’s 21st (we think—but not too sure) annual celebration. Twenty-nine of our 49 life members attended the casual dress affair at the station hall. Members from both the fire side and the auxiliary were represented.  The evening started with the different groups talking about the 901 Montgomery Street station, the types of apparatus we had (open cab and now closed-cab units), “Old Liz” in parades, training hours, marching in parades, community events, even the State Firemens’ Association pajama events, and, of course, the sad stories of the members we have lost throughout the years.

Two of our top four very senior members attended: Frank C. Mackey and Robert “Tommy” Scaggs. Both Ted Lovell and Robert Maring were under the weather but the rest of us made sure the stories were told. Three members had 60-plus years, 12 with 50-plus years, 19 with 40-plus years, 17 with 30-plus years, and 7 with 25 years. More will be moving up into the Seniors Circle. Sadly, others one day will be leaving for that fire station up above. All in all, we had a great time talking old school and the committee did a great job. Let me pass on the message everyone said when leaving to go home: “See everyone next year.” Stay tuned to see how it goes, folks.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives.

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Michael Sellner is a member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department and a life-long Laurelite.