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General News: Firefighters Celebrate Award
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| Firefighters gather round the new trophy |
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| The red shirt uniform |
October 05, 2006
Spit-and-polish, exemplary presentation, discipline in the ranks – these are some of the qualities that helped Storm King Fire Engine Company #2 win its fourth award for Best Overall company in the 92nd Annual Orange County Volunteer Fireman’s Association Parade in Pine Bush on September 23rd.
Chief Jeff Armitage says that the company went into the competition not expecting to win. Some 55 departments from across the county are judged while they parade through town. The Storm King company scored 596 of a possible 600 points to win the trophy.
“It was a little bit of a shock to us,” says Armitage, “because we hadn’t won the trophy in 13 years.”
The trophy is a badge of honor, with a tradition all its own. Once a fire company has won the trophy three times, the trophy is retired in the name of former members.
After being judged Best Overall in 1988, 1989, and 1993, the Storm King company dedicated its “retired” trophy to Thomas Ringlehan, the only member of the company to die in the line of duty. Ringlehan was only 21 years old in June 1973 when he was killed on the fire truck as it went along Route 218 to answer a call at West Point.
Armitage says that the members of the fire department worked hard to prepare for the parade. “We are competitors and we came out to compete,” he says, acknowledging the weeks of work put into polishing the trucks in an effort overseen by Lieutenants Bob Lynch and Tom Smith. Lloyd Neville served as drill master.
The tight formations of the parade color guard and firefighterss and the sparkling fire engines won high marks from the judges, but Armitage thinks he knows what clinched the trophy. “Our red shirts stand out,” he says.
The 28 people who marched in the parade made the win possible, Armitage is quick to point out. And each of them took part in the celebration when they brought the new trophy home.
“I haven’t seen the firehouse that crazy in years,” he notes.
The ladies auxiliary also won first place in its division.
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