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Congratulations On Your Retirement, Dad!!

After 25 years of service with the Volga Fire Department, my Dad is retiring tonight. 

It seems like my Dad has been a fireman my whole life. He almost has been, really. 

I always knew when it was 6:30. Brookings County sent out their radio test at that time. When the radio went off any other time than that, Dad would race off (if it was a call for Volga, that is).

One of the craziest memories I have is from quite some time ago ... I can't even remember when. 

My parents drove a Ford Escort station wagon (I think) at the time. We had gone to the movies one night. Mom and Dad went to Backdraft. I don't really remember what movie Nichole and I went to. After the movies, we headed to Econofoods to do some grocery shopping (where Dunham's is now). Mom was commenting on the way there that it had been a while since Volga had gotten a fire call. Sure enough, Volga got a fire call. And we were standing by the meat counter with a grocery cart half full of groceries. Mom and Dad just kind of looked at each other and one of them said to the nearby clerk, "We'll be back!"

We raced out of the store, got in the car and Dad took off like a shot. We headed East on 6th Street to 22nd. From there, we got onto Highway 14 and headed to Volga. My sister didn't care for the ride there, as Dad was driving just a touch above the speed limit. I thought it was awesome! Dad pulled up in front of the fire hall, jumped out and raced inside. We watched the trucks pull out of the station and from there ... well, I don't really remember what happened. I'm sure at some point we went back and finished our grocery shopping.

This year for Halloween, Preston was a fireman. Dad took him to the fire hall to see the trucks yesterday. Preston really got a kick out of it.

 

Congratulations, Dad, and thank you for your service!