CASWELL FIRE DEPARTMENTS NAME FIREFIGHTERS OF THE YEAR

By Angela Evans, Managing Editor/Caswell Messenger, Yanceyville, NC

More than 100 firefighters and their guests gathered at the Southern Caswell Ruritan on Saturday to honor Caswell County's firefighters of the year.

Eleven were named from 10 departments, and EMS Director Jimmy Gusler was on hand to present the Ernest Paschal Award.

Mitch Foster, president of the fireman's association led the banquet.

Foster told those gathered that countless hours go into being a volunteer fireman and many miss important events like family functions to make their communities safer.

"I want to personally thank all the firemen here tonight for everything they have given their communities over the past year," Foster said. "I also want to thank someone else, the families of these individuals ... without the support of our families we would not be able to do the job that we do."

Members of the Southern Caswell Ruritan prepared and served a meal of ham, chicken casserole, potatoes, green beans, salad, rolls and desserts.

Guest speaker for the event was Ralph Thompson, a Caswell native who is now director of Emergency Chaplains out of Durham.

Thompson grew up in Providence and moved to Durham in 1985. He had served as an associate pastor in Durham, became a chaplain in 2001, and formed the Emergency Chaplains in 2008.

Emergency Chaplains serves the EMS, police and firefighters by ministering to the public at emergency scenes.

Thompson told the group about his father, who had been a firefighter and farmer in Caswell, and about his upbringing here. He spoke of the influence life in Caswell and its people had on his life, and how through Emergency Chaplains he takes a piece of Caswell everywhere he goes.

"I now work on the streets of Durham taking the comfort of Jesus Christ to people who are in crisis," Thompson said. "I'm taking a little bit of Providence Fire Department; I'm taking a little bit of Caswell County ... the people here and the foundation you've built in in me ... God has used you to touch people all the way in Durham."

"If you are a firefighter or work in public safety, I believe God has called you to that as a ministry," Thompson said. "Never underestimate the influence you have on other people ... the people that you serve and the people you serve with."

The ceremonies ended with a presentation of awards to firefighters who have influenced their peers in the past years, enough to be elected from among them and named 2009 Firefighter of the Year.

Winners from each department include:

Gary Chandler, Yanceyville; Lynn Lunsford, Milton; Chris King, Casville; Butch Barts, Providence; Keith Vernon, Prospect Hill; David McGee, Pelham; Randy Whitt, and Jeanette Dodson, Semora; Derek Watson, Cherry Grove; Harvey Rudd, Anderson; Bryon Reagan, Leasburg.

The Ernest Paschal Award - named for a former Cherry Grove firefighter and given to an outstanding medic responder in the Caswell fire service - was presented to Brian Massey, of the Yanceyville Volunteer Fire Department.