Three Generations of Fire Service

When I was  a little girl, I can remember hearing the rotary dial telephone’s shrill ring interrupt dinner at my grandparent’s home.  It was a different kind of ring from a regular call.  It was a very persistent ring.  My grandfather or uncle would rise to answer and everyone would sit quietly to hear about the fire call.  Back then, the operator would make a “party call” to notify the volunteer firefighters of a situation needing their attention.  Fast forward 30 some years and the shrill beep of a fire pager still brings these volunteers to their feet in a hurry!

When my aunt asked me to create portraits of my uncle and cousin in their fire gear at the Littleton Volunteer Fire Department, I was excited, but I knew we would be missing someone very special.  My grandfather who also served the department passed away several years ago.  The three men who share the same name have served that department for combination of 85 years!  So, of course, we found a way to include my granddaddy.  The dark colored turnout gear and helmet seen in two of these sneak peeks belonged to him.  I know he is smiling down from Heaven and is just as proud of our family heroes as we are.

3 Generations of Firemen

Like father, like son

The Chief

Following in the footsteps of Giants

Always Ready, Always Remembered

Volunteer fire departments serve rural areas across this nation with little or no pay or glory.  When you get a chance be sure to support your local station and say thank you to your local heroes who spend countless hours in training and put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe.