This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. As a volunteer firefighter, I am caused to reflect back on the start of the volunteer fire service. The first volunteer fire company was started by Benjamin Franklin and was organized Dec. 7, 1736 in Philadelphia, 30 years before the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our county. 

Since then, volunteer fire companies have been a major component in the protection of American families. I have been a volunteer firefighter for more than 60 years. For 40-plus years, I was with the Elsmere Fire Company, and for almost the last 20, I have been with the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

 At the turn of the century, I wrote a newspaper article. The title was, “A few heroes needed in the new millennium.” In that article was a poem about what I have seen in all my volunteer fire service years. I used some of my experiences from the first poem and added a couple from my time with Rehoboth.

“I wish you could see what I see”

I wish you could see the heavy, pouring, cold rain
As I maneuvered the ambulance down the lane
The husband was on the floor with this limp woman in his lap
Trying ever so desperately to bring his wife back
When we assessed her condition, my partner and I knew
We had to move fast because her lips were blue
We went for the Heimlich once, twice and then
We improvised and got her breathing again.

I wish you could see the cold night in December
An incident in my life I will always remember
I looked at my officer and he said “let’s go”
And I drove the ladder truck out in the snow
A little girl was trapped in her bedroom, with flames in our way
It was our training and fortitude that got us through that day
When they passed out the window and down the ladder that night
I’ll never forget how she looked, she was a horrific sight
Our EMTs and medics worked to save her life
And she is with us today because of their plight 

I wish you could see when we were dispatched to a rescue with a good crew
We were heading for some place that only a few of us knew
When we arrived on scene we decided to get our rescue up top
So we could have our crew and gear at the drop
It was now pitch dark when I went over the edge
Down the quarry to the two boys on the ledge
I assessed their condition and gave them my life line
Then the crew got them up one at a time

I wish you could see the crash on Camp Arrowhead Road
Right on the S curve where the traffic slowed
The car was on fire with the driver trapped inside
It was wrapped around a tree but not on its side
We quickly pulled a fire hose line and put the fire out
Then the crew worked diligently and got the driver out

I wish you could see that crash at Warrington and 24
We knew it was bad when we went out the door
The chief did his size up and knew we had a lot to do
There were eight people injured, four of them trapped in car No. 2
The firefighters, EMTs and medics worked hard that night
They used their tools, skills and equipment with all of their might
Everyone was sent to hospitals in time
We accomplished our mission which was prime

I wish you could see the jobs that we do
The volunteer in America is nothing new
We have given our sweat, blood and tears
And have done it faithfully for over 250 years
With words like family, tradition and pride
And American ideals that help us abide
We are the Delaware volunteer fire service and EMS too
And have given that dedicated service to all of you.

These are a few of the incidents that I have been a part of over the years. There is no greater gift than what we do. We touch people’s lives. The volunteer firefighter is a unique person, yet they are uniquely American. Volunteerism has been part of our county since before the first shot on Lexington Green.

This year, the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company is celebrating its 120th anniversary. We are looking for some additional volunteers to help us carry on our tradition of service to our communities. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, think about a declaration of your own, to consider becoming an American volunteer firefighter. 

Learn what tradition, excitement, community service and camaraderie are all about. Joining our team can change your life. If you want to learn more, go to rehobothbeachfire.com. We are looking forward to hearing from you.