1. Good afternoon,
I’d like to thank Hose Company No. 1 for allowing me to give the
closing remarks for today’s rededication ceremony. Especially
since I’m not a member of Hose Company No.1, nor am I a
firefighter. But I am a member of their sister company, Vigilant,
and I have been around long enough and grew up across the street
from the Vigilant Fire Company to appreciate the sacrifice,
commitment and dedication of volunteer firemen. This is
especially true today with all the mandatory training and classes
volunteers must take. I am lucky to be both old enough to
remember the events of the accident that toppled the firemen
statue, and witnessed the town’s response to it, and yet I am young
enough to still be able to remember those events.
Today we’re gathered here to celebrate several things. First and
foremost this fireman’s 100th
anniversary. We are also here to pay
tribute to the men who brought a public water fountain back to
town, and erected this firemen some 100 years ago, recognize and

2. honor those responsible for bringing him back to this location 30
years ago after he was severely damaged, and lastly to remember
the firemen who gave their lives on 9/11. Those are all well and
good and important, but I think the real story here, and one that I
would like you to remember when you leave here today, is the
coming together of a community. For that is what got us here
today, and allowed us to be able to celebrate this firemen statue’s
centennial. It is often said that out of tragedy some good comes.
Now the damage to our town’s fireman was not a tragedy in the
sense that lives were lost. But when it happened back in 1979, it
was a tragedy to our community. Our beloved firemen statue that
stood vigil over the town for 70 years, and was the symbol for
Slatington’s centennial in 1964 was in pieces laying on the edge of
Main Street for all to see. For those of us old enough to
remember the 70’s, specifically late 1979 into 1980 you’ll
remember that the times were tough, and in a lot of ways those
times mirror the current times. Back then we had layoffs, double-
digit inflation, high unemployment, high gas prices, the Iranian

3. hostage crisis, and even bad disco music. We were in a funk, and
needed some good news; we needed our spirits to be uplifted. And
that is exactly what happened at least in our town back in 1980
when this statue was rededicated through the collective efforts of
our community.
To this day the identity of the driver has remained a mystery. Was
it ironically a member of Hose Company No. 1? Was it a drunken
jealous member of Vigilant Fire Company? In a way that hit and
run driver whomever he or she was, and perhaps now in their 50’s
or 60’s, perhaps even in the audience with us today; did us a favor
by running into our fireman. Yes you heard me, did us a favor,
how? Because that person brought our town together. I remember
back then after the accident walking or riding in a car by the curve
here, the thermometer they had with the goal of 10,000 dollars.
Every few weeks, It gradually would increase until they had met
then exceeded their goal. Donations came in from individuals,
organizations, and even children. Some 30 people were involved

4. in all facets of restoration and included welding, plumbing,
curbing, sidewalk, working with PP&L, PENN DOT, and so on.
People who belonged to Hose Company Number 1 and people who
didn’t, united in a cause to get the firemen statue and the fountain
back to this location. Just as volunteer firemen answer the call, so
did these individuals, they answered the call of their community.
It was something the likes of which this town has not seen since
1980. I remember as a 13 year old, standing right over there at that
light standard with my dad, watching the rededication ceremony,
in awe of the number of people who attended the parade and
dedication that day. Since we arrived later than we wanted to, that
is as close as we could get (for those that know me, arriving late is
no big surprise, something I did even back then). Just look at that
picture on the back cover of your program and see how this street
was jammed with people. If the same thing happened last year,
and we were gathered here today for a rededication would the
same number of people attend. I doubt it. Would the same

5. number of people even have been involved in the restoration?
Again I doubt it.
For it seems like nowadays some have lost their sense of
community and togetherness. Yes there are still volunteers in
Slatington, several civic groups in town serving the needs of the
residents and trying to improve the town. But their numbers are
shrinking not growing. Many of us are too wrapped up in the
challenges and tasks of every day life to become involved. How
many of us know are neighbors, are willing to help our neighbors,
are willing to help our town, Slatington, the one we call home?
My challenge for you and my hope is that when you leave here
today, you consider getting involved, whether it is joining a
volunteer organization, helping out at your church, or just doing
some small act of service for your neighbor. Let’s get the
community back in Slatington....

6. Now turning our thoughts back 30 years ago, to the events that
brought this statue back to this site, and to the person who hit the
fountain and toppled the statue. You united our sense of pride in
our community, now in two thousand ten it is up to all of us to do
the same. Now it may be 30 years late in coming, and if you
haven’t already been told and I doubt you have, on behalf of
myself, Hose Company No. 1 and the citizens of Slatington, to the
person who hit and damaged our statue, I say thank you for a job
well done!

7. Now turning our thoughts back 30 years ago, to the events that
brought this statue back to this site, and to the person who hit the
fountain and toppled the statue. You united our sense of pride in
our community, now in two thousand ten it is up to all of us to do
the same. Now it may be 30 years late in coming, and if you
haven’t already been told and I doubt you have, on behalf of
myself, Hose Company No. 1 and the citizens of Slatington, to the
person who hit and damaged our statue, I say thank you for a job
well done!