Pennsylvania’s Valley Firemen’s Association unveils monument to honor volunteer firefighters
Story & Photos by Fran Webb

A new monument now stands in Howard Elmer Park in Sayre, Pa. A dedication ceremony and unveiling was held on Oct. 10, 2009, under the veil of a large American flag, hung from the tips of two aerial trucks from Sayre Fire Department’s Engine Company No. 1 and Athens Township. The ceremony was the result of a 9-year-long effort to recognize the dedication of countless volunteers in the area by the Valley Firemen’s Association.

“The Valley” is a FEMA-recognized area in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, centered around the Athens and Sayre areas, and extending into towns including Waverly, N.Y. In 1902, the fire departments of the Valley area entered into an agreement of mutual aid that continues to thrive today. Members of the Valley Firemen’s Association list include the Athens Boro Fire Department, which includes the Protection Hose Company No. 1 and the Diahoga Hose Company No. 6; the Athens Township Volunteer Fire Company; the Ingersoll Rand Fire Team; the Litchfield Township Volunteer Fire Company; the Sayre Fire Company, which includes Engine Company No. 1, the Howard Elmer Hose Company No. 4 and the J.E. Wheelock Hose Company No. 5; the South Waverly Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; the Ulster-Sheshequin Fire Association; the Waverly/Barton Fire District, J.E. Hallett Fire Company No. 1, and the Greater Valley Emergency Medical Services.

According to the Valley Firemen’s Association President Bob Johnston, “Back in 1997, we began talking about a way to honor the Valley Firefighters. In 2000, we got the plans underway with the help of the dedicated firemen and the hard-working committee that we have had.” Over the next 9 years, members of the association worked long and hard to raise approximately $75,000. They had numerous fundraisers, including rummage sales, chicken barbeques, raffles and boot drives. State Representative Tina Pickett helped by obtaining a grant that really got things rolling. Many local businesses also helped by making donations to show their gratitude for years of dedicated volunteers serving the community.

The dedication ceremony and unveiling was attended by more than 100 firefighters and EMS personnel from around the area, as well as several local dignitaries. More than a dozen pieces of apparatus surrounded the park for the ceremony. In addition to the association member departments, some of the outlying mutual-aid departments, including Lockwood, N.Y., also attended the ceremony.

Pickett was the first guest speaker. She praised the association and the community for working together to create a lasting memorial dedicated to all of the past, present and future firefighters of the Valley. “When I look around here today at all of the wonderful, dedicated people who make this such a wonderful place to be, I am reminded that we’re here today to remember people who have been part of our community along the way,” she said.

Next to speak was the mayor of Sayre Borough, Denny Thomas, who is himself a longtime member of the Sayre Fire Department. He urged community members to not take the daily sacrifices that firefighters make on their behalf for granted. “How many people have been home at nighttime eating their dinner or in their beds when it’s 10 below zero, heard the fire whistles go off, roll over and go back to sleep?” Thomas asked. “There’s probably a lot of people who hear it … and usually, when that happens, there’s probably at least 30 or 40 people who are on the move, who leave their families, leave their dinner tables, because they’re volunteers looking out for this community, the whole community. To me, that is quite a thing.”

Association president Johnston stated in his remarks, “It’s amazing what a group of volunteers can do when they work together. I’m just so happy to see this come to be here.”

The monument was unveiled by the three speakers to a rousing round of applause from the audience. The monument features a firefighter sculpted from solid granite atop a finely polished granite block base. The base is engraved with the list of the member departments on one side. On another side is the dedication itself; the third side features the Fireman’s Prayer. On the front is the dedication date as well as a large Maltese cross.
A concrete observation patio is planned to surround the monument as well as the neighboring war memorial. In addition, a time capsule will be planted beneath the patio, which will be filled with memorabilia from the association member departments and with info and memories from the ceremony.

A prayer of dedication was offered by Jack Felt, the chaplain for the Sayre Fire Department.

In closing, as emcee of the event, I thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and offered one final recommendation to “Be safe!”

Fran Webb is the secretary and lieutenant of Engine Company No. 1 in Sayre, Pa.