Firemen Honored At Annual BanquetSince 1977, Keith Hunsberger has been a fixture at the Milford Fire Department.
Thursday night at the annual Kosciusko County Fire Association banquet, Hunsberger was honored for his years of service and named Fireman of the Year.
In the letter nominating Hunsberger for the honor, he was described as a business man and active member of his church who still finds time for service to others through the fire department.Hunsberger has spent 17 years as assistant chief at Milford, and his son also is an active member of the fire service.
"I can't do it without our department," said Hunsberger as he accepted the award. "Thank you, Milford, thank you very much."
Several others were honored at the annual fish fry this year as well.
Mike Blair, of the Atwood Fire Department, earned the Fireman's Service Award for 2009. Blair has been a firefighter for 25 years, and the letter nominating him for the award stated, "He is a great asset to the department and the county association."
Blair has been involved as the department secretary and was integral in the development of the Save-A-Life trailer.
"Mike goes the extra mile to make sure (the annual dinner) goes smoothly," said Mitch Rader, who presented the award.
Tony D. Farrer, District 5 chairman of the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter's Association, presented 50-year pins to 13 Kosciusko Firemen. The men already have received their gold cards as lifetime members of the volunteer firefighter's association, but the group also decided to give the men gold lapel pins as well.
Fifty-year members given pins were: Frank Hoffer, Atwood; Alton Bruner and Franklin Swick, Burket; Layne Warren, Claypool; Frank Hardesty, Carey Landis, Marion Smith and Don Smythe, Mentone; Robert Hurd, Milford; Harold Barker, Pierceton; Joseph Hughes, Syracuse; and Bruce Howe and Robert Wulliman, Winona Lake.
The Mentone Fire Department earned the Kosciusko County Fire Association's attendance award this year. The department with the most members attending the monthly county meetings gets this award each year. On average, there were 44 members at each county meeting for the past year.
Attaboy Awards were presented to Joe Menzie, Claypool; Dave O'Brien, Burket; and Doug Wood, Leesburg/Plain Township.
