This past weekend, members and family members of the North Charleston District Fire Department came together for a reunion attended by over 50 former members of the NCDFD. Many of those in attendance worked in the District from 1975 until it joined the North Charleston City Fire Department. Also, many of us worked together over 40 years ago so getting that many of us together was a big deal.
The food was excellent, the fellowship even better, as we took turns sharing stories about our days roaming the streets of North Charleston. As always, there was a certain amount of embellishment in the tales told but, after all, it has been forty years. Nevertheless, that stroll back through time made for a great day with wonderful, lifelong friends.
I think we all knew when we worked together that we had been blessed to work in a unique organization that was a once in a lifetime experience. Yesterday reminded me of just how unique it was.
Special thoughts are offered for those we have lost. Charlie Middleton, Ed Bursiel, Willie Jones, Joe Lambright, Jesse Kennedy, Billy Hendricks, Bruce Miller, Don Keister, Jimmy Rowell, Clara Williams, Ronnie Brown, Wray McDaniel, Mike Wren, Beatrice Martin, and Joe Byas are just some of those folks who we truly missed yesterday.
Special thanks to Susan Everitt who always kept us on track from the dispatch office during our careers, and continued to take care of us as she organized this event! And, thanks to all of you that came out yesterday. We are already looking forward to the next time.