Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
An impromptu passing of the boot Thursday during the 56th annual Kosciusko County Firemen's Association Fish Fry netted $1,525 for the New York Firefighters' 9-11 Relief Fund.
This amount was collected after Rick Glass of the Winona Lake Fire Department, winner of $332 from the 50-50 drawing, declined to accept the money and indicated that he wanted the funds sent to New York. The KCFA matched that amount with its share of the 50-50 money after a motion was made from the floor.
The purpose of the annual fish fry was almost secondary to the focus on the tragic events that took place Sept. 11 that left more than 300 firefighters and police officers dead in New York.
Each September, members of fire departments throughout Kosciusko County gather to honor some of their own, recognizing them for their years of service and dedication to their departments and communities.
John Tucker, assistant chief of the Burket Fire Department, was named 2001 Fireman of the Year.
"I sure didn't expect this," Tucker told the crowd after receiving his plaque. "Thanks, everybody."
In a letter of nomination from fellow Burket firefighters, Tucker was described as "a real team player." Tucker has served his department for more than 40 years and is "a man you can count on in good times and bad."
The 2001 Service Award winner was Ed Rock of the Mentone Fire Department.
Rock has been an active member of his department for 19 years and is a certified training officer; a member of the Haz-Mat Team (of which he has been an officer since 1992); a department safety officer since 1995; a past member of Squad 70, the county's fire investigation team; and was the 1989 Fireman of the Year.
Rock also is affiliated with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Reserves and is president of the Mentone Town Council and the Tri-Township Fire Control Board.
In accepting in award, Rock said, "Thank you to the good Lord for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this brotherhood. ... I must say that I'm a member of the greatest department, if not just in Kosciusko County, but the state of Indiana."
For the second consecutive year, Mentone Fire Department received the attendance award. The winner of this award is determined by the number of men in attendance at the monthly meetings of the KCFA throughout the year. There was an average of 69 men at each meeting, said KCFA president Mitch Rader.
Butch Warren, chief of the MFD, accepted the plaque on behalf of his department.
Another award, presented by Indiana Volunteer Fireman's Association Fifth District Chairman Don Kissinger, went to Michael Blair of the Atwood Fire Department.
The Midwest Award is a service award presented to a firefighter nominated by his chief. The Fifth District encompasses Kosciusko, Marshall, Wabash, Whitley and Fulton counties.
Kissinger also presented Joseph Hughes of the Syracuse Fire Department with a life member gold card. He has served the SFD for 50 years.
Traditionally during the annual fish fry, Bruce Howe of the Winona Lake Fire Department serves as master of ceremonies, tells some corny jokes and keeps the crowd laughing.
But there was no laughter Thursday as the program turned solemn to "pay our respects tonight to our lost brothers in New York."
"We're very fortunate to be able to gather together here tonight," Rader told the group of firefighters and their guests. "We can't forget the people who lost their lives."
Glass, who was scheduled to speak at the event, said this whole thing "is simply good versus evil." He said he watched the tragedies unfold last week "with shock and disbelief. ... I could not comprehend what I was witnessing."
He added: "Three hundred of our brothers and sisters in the fire and police departments perished that day doing their job ... but for the grace of God, that could have been us. None of us has any guarantee."
Glass questioned what he and his comrades can do to make a difference and suggested, "We hug our kids a little bit tighter, we love our spouses a little bit more, we thank our parents ... we thank each other ... and we thank God for the opportunity to live in a country that's the home of the free."
He then led the group in the singing of "God Bless America," which was followed by a moment of silence, a prayer for the country and the ringing of the memorial bell, signifying that a fireman has answered his last call.
