Good neighbors
This week I’d like to honor our entire Glen Ellen Volunteer Fire Department. There is no doubt, certainly not for me, that all of these folks are lifesavers, good neighbors, and people we all can – and do – depend upon. They do so much for us. I have a couple of ideas about what we can do in return. But, before I share that, one of the simplest ways you can show appreciation is by a short note of sincere thanks. That can mean as much as anything else. Truly.
I’ve received a few notes lately that warmed me entirely. Thanks Doug; thanks, Scott; yes, thank you Marcie; and even thanks to Will. Each of your responses elicited smiles, which is a lovely treat on any day. But those stories are for another column; for now, I want to concentrate on our much-admired fire folks.
Cascade of role changes
I received a great email from our Glen Ellen Fire Chief, Peter Van Fleet, recently. As he begins, “Lots of stuff going on at the firehouse,” and truly there is.
“Bob Wagner, our retired local veterinarian, was recognized for his many years as a volunteer firefighter and district director. Bob and Pam Wagner’s move to North Carolina left a vacancy on the fire district board of directors. Hal Weise, our assistant fire chief was appointed to that position by the board of directors at the regular meeting in December. Hal resigned from his assistant chief position to become a director. Hal served our community as a volunteer for 33 years and, I believe holds the record as the longest serving volunteer in department history.”
From this column and out to the community, we send grand congratulations to Hal for his continuing service to our volunteer department, now as a board member.
The company also recognized Bob Norrbom for his 40 years of service on the district board of directors. Chief Peter says, “We had his son Bob Norrbom Jr., a long time Glen Ellen volunteer and his grandson Mike Norrbom, a new Glen Ellen volunteer, stand up with him to honor the three generations of Norrboms serving Glen Ellen.”
These folks, who remain in Glen Ellen and serve us all so faithfully, embody the qualities that make our town so special. Many of the good folks of our town are here, not merely because it’s paradise, but because they choose to live where people care about one another and show that dedication through their volunteer efforts.
Referring to these dedicated longtime families, Peter Van Fleet continues, “I appointed Matt Atkinson, our battalion chief officer, to the assistant chief position and Rusty Sims, a fire captain, to Matt’s battalion chief position.
In January, the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars recognized Matt Atkinson for his community service as a firefighter in Glen Ellen. Matt will have completed 32 years of service to our community at his start date this year. Matt originally came to Glen Ellen as a ranger at the park. He retired from that job several years ago and became ranch manager for Benziger Family Winery.”
The veterans association also honored Kevin Berger for his service as an emergency medical technician. Chief Van Fleet admits, “We don’t quite know how to count Kevin’s service years. Although he started in 1976 when he was 16 years old, Kevin left the department to go to college and to do service in the Air Force. This year, Kevin, a Glen Ellen engineer, will retire from the Air Force after a tour of duty in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan with the rank of major. Always a volunteer, Kevin also volunteered in Iraq at the base hospital and on the fire department at his base in Afghanistan.” (Readers may recall my column mention last fall of the Reader’s Digest article about Kevin helping an injured Iraqi boy.)
“One of our fire family former volunteers, Scott Singleton, was also recognized at the VFW ceremony for his work with the Sheriff’s Department. Our own long time volunteer Nils Derickson was recognized by his employer, Cal Fire, for his work on two major fires and for his aid to an injured firefighter on another. At the Fremont Drive pallet factory fire, Nils took his dozer into the building and pushed flaming pallets away from the building; then pushed other equipment out of the fire’s path.”
Chief Van Fleet emphasizes, “I believe that structure was saved by his actions. Nils is a hero in Sebastopol for his dozer work on the Frizelle Enos feed store fire and on the Willow fire for hearing a radio transmission that a firefighter was down, locating the firefighter and putting her into the cab of the dozer. He carried her to where she could receive medical assistance.
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