Photos: Fighting fire with heart since 1939
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
The clamor of children, from toddlers to tweens, rumbled through the afternoon as the kids chased and raced one another around the lawn at the Carey Institute for Global Good and their parents watched the awards and prizes being handed out for the Rensselaerville Volunteer Fire Department's 75th anniversary on Sept. 6.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
The Westerlo team won first place competeting in the morning firematics event among Hilltown departments, a test of needed skills in firefighting. Several members with more than 50 years of service to the department were given awards of appreciation.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
To reflect on history visitors could go indoors, where the department’s original hose reel and an old fire extinguisher were displayed. A slideshow of photographs from its past played continuously.
The Enterprise — Marcello Iaia
An enormous flag flew from the MacBoston 18 Truck’s ladder. A plaque beside the truck listed those who died at the site of terrorists’ attacks in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Kevin Shephard and Gordon Davis, members of the MacBoston 18 Truck, visited the celebration; The group’s name comes from Paul MacMurray, nicknamed Mac, a fallen firefighter from Hudson Falls with the badge number 18. The first memorial truck came from the city of Boston. On its side, the names of New York State firefighters who have died in the line of duty are listed. Shephard led the afternoon with a prayer for the safety of Rensselaerville firefighters and all firefighters’ families.