| During the evening hours of Saturday February 4th, close to 250 people packed the brand new Banquet Hall at the Huntingtown VFD for the 33rd Annual Banquet/Installation of Officers. This particular Banquet was particularly emotional for several reasons. This is the first year that we have held the Banquet in the new addition. Chief Sharon Eskins (Co 10) did an outstanding job (like usual) with her slideshow she works so hard at. Additionally, she presented a second slide show honoring the nine Huntingtown Volunteers (Spriggs, G Farrell, C Gadway, J Gadway, Nahas, Dorsey, Muholland, and RJ Rountree) who traveled south months ago to aid the Hurricane Katrina victims. Additionally, past Fire Chief Mark Morrison recently moved to West Virginia and transferred jobs. Because of this, his time will be extremely limited to Company 6. However, he spent countless hours in past years and ran thousands of calls. Fire Chief Osbourn presented him a special award at the Banquet.
The most touching event of the entire evening was when Mr. Robert Rountree was presented the Medal of Gallantry. This Medal is awarded to a firefighter who at great personal risk has been instrumental in rescuing and saving another from possible death. On September 25th, Company 6 responded to an auto accident (http://www.hvfd6.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=133). Shortly after arrival, one of the vehicles exploded into flames burning and trapping one of our firefighters (RJ Rountree) who was inside of the vehicle. Mr. Rountree (the victim's father) was driving the Squad and immediately jumped into the vehicle, rescuing his son and saving him from certain death. RJ was in the hospital for one day but his father received critical burns causing him to remain at the Burn Center for several days. They are both back to full riding status.
Many thanks to Michelle Smith, Sandy Dugan and the Banquet Committee for a wonderful presentation. Thanks to Michael Bowen (Company 2) for playing the bagpipes. ABC 7 Newscaster Doug Hill (http://www.wjla.com/news/talent.hrb?i=55) was the Master of Ceremonies once again for the 3rd year in a row and like always, did a fabulous job. Mr. Hill is a resident of our first due and may be joining our station very soon! Thanks to Company 2, Company 5 and Company 4 for covering our apparatus. The following awards were presented: Chief's Award-EMS Lieutenant Jessi Nutwell, Officer of the Year-Fire Chief Osbourn, EMS Lieutenant Jessi Nutwell, EMT of the Year-Zac Angelo, Rookie EMT-Kala Scoggin, FF of the Year-David Willis, Rookie FF-James Hildwine, Edward Morrison Award-David Willis, Top Fire Runner-Sgt Mike Nasti, Top EMS Runner-Sgt Mike Nasti, Top Overall Runner-Sgt Mike Nasti. President's Award-Past VP Mike Bowen. Additionally, Chief Osbourn and his wife, Kelley received an award for all of their hard work in running the committee that gives away the Classic Corvette annually. Vice President Paul Robinson also received a plaque for all of his dedication and work in running the Committee on the new building addition.
**Pictures courtesy of Patin Photography Inc.
Side note: The two slideshows will be found on the front page of the website in the near future. |
