Your contribution matters. The restaurant's name means "pot on fire. Embarcadero Media file photo by Michelle Le. "The job essentially is bigger than any of us the responsibility to protect the community and serve the community," he said. "We almost died that night," he recalled. With every challenge you face, there will always be someone new at your side willing to help you move mountains if you need it. Eastons been a wonderful place to work and Ive been honored to have led this great department, Partridge said during his speech at Wednesdays event. Captain Frederick, a member of the Covington Fire Department since 1993 and a firefighter since 1982, delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on his career. Plus, Schapelhouman admits to having a workaholic streak. As the bagpipe music continued, the fire department doors opened and an honor guard filed out. Home speeches were made about great victories, battles fought upon the open sea, raging storms weathered, and voyages to distant and strange lands with ports-of-call others only dreamed about. Fire protection district in Hauser, Idaho. 860. He and his colleagues found and rescued an abandoned newborn from a dryer near Whiskey Gulch and named him Walter Millschap, a portmanteau of their names.They succeeded in safely evacuating every child from a 1997 fire at Green Oaks Academy in East Palo Alto despite extremely hazardous conditions, including a faulty fire alarm and no sprinkler system. So please join me in wishing [name] the best as they enter this exciting next phase of life. He and his colleagues found and rescued an abandoned newborn from a dryer near Whiskey Gulch and named him Walter Millschap, a portmanteau of their names. Jason McKenna was promoted to Battalion Chief. He pushed for other common-sense measures from local agencies like for the district's emergency response vehicles to be exempted from FasTrak fees and fines when crossing the Dumbarton Bridge during emergency responses. Thank you for your camaraderie and support throughout these years. It should help the audience understand what this change means for you while keeping them curious about where your next chapter will take you. Harold Schapelhouman almost didn't become a Menlo Park firefighter.The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los Altos Fire Department woke him in the middle of the night and asked him to join them in taking the test for the district.Schapelhouman, then 20, needed some convincing. Help sustain the local news you depend on. Cheers! The fire truck museum at the district's newly rebuilt Oak Grove Avenue site will bear his name. "Every single day you've got to do the job, whether your body's cooperating or not cooperating. WebFirefighter Retirement Speech In your firefighter retirement speech you will speak of the courage and bravery that is an essential part of the job and the way in which the retiree Each speaker talked about Partridges many contributions to the Easton Fire Department throughout the years and their personal connections with him. When creating an outline for your retirement speech, make sure to consider the following steps: By crafting an effective outline and following these steps, you can ensure that your retirement speech is well-received by everyone in attendance. All rights reserved. WebAssistant Chief A.D. Vickery retires after 53 years of dedicated service. He also thanked Eastons firefighters for their continued hard work and commitment to the community: The bottom line is that were all here to help the residents of Easton. Although he had earned his full retirement a decade ago, he has continued to serve for ten more years because of his love for the Calling and his devotion to our community. Kentucky That transition, he said, "has been a huge evolution in patient care. And Im saying goodbye to the most supportive and incredible colleagues. "I almost quit about six months in. This type of retirement speech allows for more time as you pour your heart out and express how the people around you have positively impacted your life over the years. For most of us, retiring in our mid-50s means finding a new career to help pay for those mortgages and college tuition bills that keep coming. After years of living on a work cycle (mine was 24 hours on and 48 hours off), you'll find yourself needing to adjust to the world of the 40-hour work week, especially if you take on another job. Put together a party itinerary for activities and catering, then talk to a few key people about giving planned toasts to the retiring firefighter who is being honored. A firefighter responds to alarms on duty and this ceremony is a reminder of their sacrifice. ""It does take on a rhythm," he said. He had been passed over in his first effort to join the Los Altos firefighting staff and had recommitted himself to his college coursework. Fire Department Pension Fund - Government of New York City College Of Lake County Honors Student-Nominated Faculty Award Winners, Local Jobs: See Who's Hiring In The Lake Zurich Area, Man Accused Of Threatening Members Of Jewish Synagogue In Lake County, 2 New Homes For Sale In The Lake Zurich Area, Ravinia Festival Tickets Set To Go On Sale Exclusively Online. Hostage situations. 719 Washington St. Advertising Info The term divorce is an apt description, despite it being an amiable one. As you all know, [name] is retiring at the end of the month and moving on to the next, less stressful chapter of life. Heres a view from one of the newest retired firefighter wives on day one of retirement. I miss those old guys, and unfortunately I never took the opportunity to tell them how much they meant to us. 781-428-3299. It was even through the fire district that he met the woman who would later become his wife. You deserve it! The hardest was a timed test that required carrying more than 120 pounds of equipment up a training tower, and many strong-looking candidates were failing. Lexipol. Volunteer Firefighter Retirement And, in the 1980s, there were many difficult calls due to the heroin epidemic and high crime rates, yielding a grim and repeating rhythm of "shooting, stabbing, assault, overdose," Schapelhouman said. The farewell celebration took place at Easton Fire Station 3. If a notable team member is retiring, its an excellent opportunity to express gratitude for their contributions and commitment while highlighting hard work and excellence for other employees. When that retirement date comes and goes, it might seem like a divorce. WebWe also wish to express to Chief Alderson on behalf of the entire Fire Department our heartfelt and sincere thanks for a job well done and to wish him a long, healthy and The district was known for firing people regularly and often, he said. At last weeks Board of Commissioners Legislative meeting on August 8, 2017, Covington Fire Department Captain Dan Frederick, Battalion Chief Seth Poston, Assistant Chief Chris Black, and Engineer Nick Nazzarine announced their retirement after 120 years of combined service, effective August 31, 2017. Retirement He is outspoken on any issue where there is a threat to our community even when doing so was not politically correct. All rights reserved. What is your favorite thing about Breakfast withSanta? This article, originally published on March 3, 2015, had been updated. It may take a few drafts to get it right, but the effort will be worth it. Partridge closed the ceremony speaking about his history in the fire service and thanking his family and those who have helped him throughout his career, as well as the fire chiefs from around the region who attended. Consider these retirement target hazards and pre-plan accordingly. This picture is pretty much how I feel today. There were fires in which children perished. At one point, a fight broke out, after which Menlo Park firefighters insisted that nobody could save spots in line.Schapelhouman made his way in the door for that written test and passed it easily. ET ET. He offered gratitude to those he worked with along the way, words of wisdom and stories of lessons learned. He is a 2001 graduate of the National Fire Academy's EFO Program. I would like to thank the commissioners, past and present, for all their support throughout the years and for what they do to keep this Department moving forward and outfitted. Experiences like that were especially scary because the responders didn't know what hazardous chemicals they might have been exposed to. But I also look forward to embracing new challenges and experiences on my new journey ahead. The music abruptly stopped, and all attention shifted to member of the honor guard, who slowly began to lower the American flag. Last call. A parade of fire, police and other emergency response vehicles, with their lights and sirens activated, traveled through the town before arriving at the station. The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los Altos Fire Department woke him in the middle of the night and asked him to join them in taking the test for the district. Most people don't want to admit this, but wardrobe management is not necessarily in our DNA. I'm not saying you get there overnight, but in the end, it's the reason the fire service is the most trusted profession.". His family lived in Mountain View and Los Altos, and as an adult, he lived in Sunnyvale and Fremont before settling in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood, he said. Over time that equals hours, then days, then weeks that you spend doing nothing but thinking about what shirt to wear. Larry As firefighters, we know the value of conducting pre-plans for target hazards in our district and there's great value in applying that strategy to your second career. Then once we were in, we immersed ourselves in the fire service culture. Fittingly, Schapelhouman's last day was dedicated to a ceremony to promote staff members of the fire district. Sports Woman charged for fatal wrong-way crash on I-280 last weekend, Foothill-De Anza names four finalists to be next chancellor, Around Town: Palo Alto gets ready to celebrate 99th annual May Fete Parade, Take a look back at April with our month-end local news quiz, Special-education classrooms destroyed in possible arson at Cubberley Community Center, "They gave it the best college try they could give it, but he didn't make it," he said. Look no further if youre stuck and need some ideas or inspiration. Strength and service: Retired fire chief reflects on his 40-year Canton, MA 02021 Your health and wellness moves up on your list of life's priorities. The Green Oaks Family Academy Elementary School Fire Protection Act became law in 2002, but Schapelhouman expressed disappointment that the legislation didn't cover existing school campuses, just new ones.He pushed for other common-sense measures from local agencies like for the district's emergency response vehicles to be exempted from FasTrak fees and fines when crossing the Dumbarton Bridge during emergency responses.Through it all, he worked at mastering the art of staying professional through the trauma by seeking to do justice to the grand calling of firefighting, many people's last line of defense in the face of grave danger. Although I wont be in this office anymore, there are still plenty of contributions yet to come from me and those like me who will carry this legacy forward into our respective futures. We're trained to be America's problem solvers, those people call when they don't know who to call. This is particularly true for men, as research has demonstrated that lasting male relationships are closely connected with their work. 8 Prospect St. "Heck yeah, that was awesome!" As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. On a more genuine note, I will certainly miss all of you and our great work here. Partridge was honored with a citation each from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Massachusetts State Senate in recognition of his dedication and years of service, as well as a plaque from the Easton Select Board and framed recognition letter from State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. After Decades of Service to New Yorkers, Fire Commissioner Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online They're getting bigger, and I worry about firefighter safety," he said. he was told.He passed the other physical assessments and joined the district in June 1981, beginning his long career with the district that culminated with his retirement June 30 after 40 years of service, the last 15 of which he spent as the district's chief.The Almanac sat down with him on his last day to hear his reflections on a career spent dedicated to protecting and rescuing community members in their times of gravest need.Schapelhouman was born in Canada, and his family moved to Barron Park in Palo Alto when he was about 3 years old. ", He became part of the district's first group of emergency medical technicians, and has seen the way first responders' skills have transformed from providing basic first aid to the more comprehensive responses that paramedics offer now. Don't miss out on the discussion! Mastandrea then ended the ceremony by presenting interim Fire Chief Dave Wheelock with a gift. Then, showing the true commitment offirefighters, the fire radiosounded reportinga two alarm-fire in Deer Park. WebBell service (Last Alarm or Last Call) After the religious ceremony or at interment, a fire department member reads a prepared statement about the firefighters last call. I dont know who to thank and who to start with. We were not Chiefs, or Officers or Engineers, we were just new Firefighters starting our path in life as the rest of our generation trickled in, adding a few every couple months. What an amazing person! "If you can't do that with compassion and forgiveness in your heart and the ability to move past people who aren't nice to you, then this isn't the job for you. Being light-hearted at the end of ones career is a graceful but uplifting way to bid farewell. "The most satisfied retirees tended to be those who planned for their retirement several years in advance.". Its rare to find an employee so dedicated and engaged, and frankly, I dont know what we will do without them. He was left unable to walk and with only partial use of one hand. H6 Radio Straps Decon Comfort Functionality, If you think it is hard to get into the fire service, wait until you try to get out; here are things you can do now to navigate that end-of-career change. He said he ran right into labor disputes and contract disagreements. "Somebody has to do the dirty work," he said. Over the years, Schapelhouman said he found ways to see a little irony where he could, like the wordplay when the Menlo Park French restaurant Le Pot au Feu experienced its own fire. With that said, I will miss all of you and wish you and (name of company) continued success. News Firefighter Retirement Awards - Tip and Suggestions. It will feel a lot like the first job I had in high school, fixing up old appliances and cleaning bathrooms, but with even less pay! Obituaries In May 2013, about seven years into his tenure as chief and after escaping unscathed from so many high-risk rescue situations, Schapelhouman was struck with a life-changing injury in his own backyard. of his retirement after 32 years of distinguished. Vickery's Retirement Speech "Somebody has to go out and do the patient care.". He was cognizant that he only had a few years left until he could be fully vested in the district's pension system and didn't want to get fired or become a "casualty" of the district's board.He finally took on the role March 31, 2006, after he was told that if he didn't, the next chief would come from outside of the district. Microwaves can destroy any great dinner that has been sitting 5 hours while you were out on calls, sleep was actually something your parents made up so they had some peace and quiet, you can make 25 EMS calls in 24 hrs, and never ask anyone why they were "doing that" at 4:30' in the morning from there you realized something; the only 2 things a Firefighter wants in his or her career are time and opportunity. Enjoy your retirement, Chief Schapelhouman! I was able to do that. Georgetown, MA 01833 As I enter the legacy phase of my life, I do so humbly and gratefully, taking the invaluable lessons I have learned here and sharing them with others. Place a Legal Notice 5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples At last weeks Board of Commissioners Legislative meeting on August 8, 2017, Covington Fire Department Captain Dan Frederick, Battalion Chief Seth Poston, Some notable accomplishments during their tenure here include: We will sorely miss their hard work, loyalty, and enthusiasm. Print Edition/Archives We can save people I would have said in the past we would have lost.". PR for Police, Fire, Schools and Municipal Government. NY Senate Resolution | NY State Senate Whether it was getting to all those projects that you never seemed to have time for or taking care of business for family and friends, your weekly schedule can fill up in a hurry. If you have any Here are a few quotes about fire along with bravery quotes to inspire you. "I took that real hard.". I survived fire life!! Everybody here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, said Mastandrea. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman in his office on this third day back at work, Jan. 9, 2014. This is a real chance for you to shine and to pay tribute to comradeship.Having shared so much over the years youll want a professionally written fire fighter retirement speech by colleague that covers all the bases and that is exactly what you will get. We owe Harold and his wife Lada and daughter Meg a huge Thank You! 1 prepared to leave. They are tried, tested and ready to use. "Fire seasons aren't getting smaller. What Retirement Looks Like for a Fire It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for fire service professionals worldwide. You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. But there were victories too. Projects around the home that Ive masterfully avoided with But Ive gotta work excuses are already on a list taped to the fridge. NEW YORK Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced his retirement from We are looking for ECE qualified teachers and teachers assistants. You have to understand that 25 years ago Covington was a different city, and it will evolve over the next 25 years to become whatever it's meant to be and the proud serving members of the Fire, Police, and Public Works will continue to see those changes through. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Remarks at Bloomington Fire Department Awards interacts online and researches product purchases