By Stephen Smoot
During the weekend, members of the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department welcomed family, friends, and other supporters to their annual dinner.
As the event opened at 5:30 Saturday evening, attendees entered the Pendleton Community Building. They were greeted by a mixture of country and classic rock style music, as well as an hors d’oeuvres table that featured pigs in a blanket, graham crackers with a sweet frosting, as well as cheese and crackers and pimento spread roll-ups.
Below, a banner read poignantly, “We Are So Proud of You!,” a sentiment that serves as the theme of every such celebration honoring these everyday heroes.
Sometimes these dinners provide a direct example of why those honored are so special. At 6:20, the sound of beepers going off filled the room. A few minutes later, as Willie Nelson opened up from the sound system singing “On the Road Again,” several Circleville Volunteer Fire Department members, all together at a front table reserved for them, leapt from their seats minutes before dinner began and hurried from the room.
On the road again, indeed: to another call, to help another person or people, on possibly the worst day of their life. They rode off, as they always do, to put their safety at risk in service to the community, responding to a tragic accident.
Terry Hedrick, president of FVFD, opened the festivities, sharing “I’m glad to see so many people out tonight.” The food and fellowship brought in guests sufficient to fill the room with the support first responders earn and deserve.
Sam Harper, chaplain from Circleville VFD, by now the lone representative remaining from that organization at the dinner, provided the invocation. He started by saying, “My company left! They’re busy!” In tune with the light-hearted atmosphere at these events, Harper quipped, “I never saw Delmas move that fast! Now I’ve got extra tickets!” for the door prize.
“We thank You for the calling You put in our lives,” prayed Harper.
Then came dinner, courtesy of Snowy Mountain Catering, which was rated as “outstanding” by Hedrick and everyone else. The buffet featured slow cooked roast beef, marinated and grilled chicken breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade macaroni and cheese, rolls, salad, and a bountiful selection of desserts.
The music had a way of timing itself in the most poignant ways. After each table got their dinner and eating started in earnest, one noticed the children. From newborns to teenaged junior firefighters, their presence gives hope for the future of volunteer services. A number were happily toddling about the room at any given point. This reinforced the notion of it being more of a large family dinner than a community event.
During this period, Merle Haggard sang about “The Roots of My Raising.” Having the dinner is part of bringing members and their families together “for the strength that I need,” as Haggard sang.
As the next part of the evening commenced, Hedrick thanked the caterers. Next, he called Jerry Bowers to the fore, as well as the slate of officers for 2026. Bowers swore in Richard Nelson as chief, Andrew Bodine as assistant chief, Brian DiFalco as captain, Darren Hedrick as first lieutenant, and Warren Hedrick as second lieutenant. Also sworn in were Terry Hedrick as president, Bobby Murphy as vice president, Evers Turner, Jr. and Katelyn Frank as secretary, Mary Ann Nelson as treasurer. Mason DiFalco as bugler, and Matt Kile as safety officer.
The Officer of the Year award was presented to Murphy. Brian DiFalco was recognized as Firefighter of the Year. Receiving the Outstanding Achievement award was Bodine.
One of the most impressive points in the evening comes when members get recognized for years of service. Colin Simmons was recognized for five, Preston Copley for 10, Bodine 20, Warren Hedrick 25, and Austen Whetzel for a half-century of service. Though not recognized directly, two longer-serving members in attendance were Bruce Minor with 56 years and Paul Mallow with 59.
Junior firefighters Liam Simmons, Lucas DiFalco, and Sarah Jo Nelson, were recognized. Terry Hedrick noted that “the future of the fire department is stepping up. Hopefully in the future, this will be the fire department.” Junior members all received plaques of appreciation and had their training regimens described.
Attending their first year of fire camp in June will be Katie Nelson, Cain Nulph and Laney Simmons.
At the head of each table sat fire service themes standing decorations. One featured the array of tools used, another had an image of flames. Each were carved from metal for the occasion. Mallow received one as the longest-serving member. Most of the rest went out as door prizes, along with three T shirts.
Richard Nelson then opened a recap of 2025. The report informed all that FVFD responded to 152 calls, with total call man hours of 1,475. Vehicles traveled a total of 4,422 miles. He gave an overview of the rising costs of operating a fire department, providing a total of $101,000 to cover the basic needs of the organization before adding in other costs, such as fuel.
While sharing appreciation for the good quality gently used equipment that FVFD acquires, Nelson said, “Unless we get a grant, I don’t see us getting a new truck,” then noting the cost of one is now at about $1 million.
He praised local businesses that had joined in fundraising efforts, often done via letting customers round up the total to the nearest dollar on a debit or credit card reader as a donation. Nelson also warned that fire protection requires people to do the job, saying, “As you look around this room, you see a lot of us are getting older.”
To close the night, attendees saw a video highlight reel of FVFD’s work during the year. Many scenes showed fire engines roaring to life, sirens blaring, as the vehicle gains power and speeds up the road. One such scene demonstrated the consideration of the community as every car in the opposing lane pulled over and stopped well before the apparatus reached them.
Harper provided the benediction to close the event, and also noted that he started his career in Franklin “many years ago” and said his current home at CVFD “appreciates all the mutual aid, appreciate you all helping us out.”
And the most important words spoken all night, outside of praise given to God, was Hedrick sharing that “all firefighters who responded to these calls got home safe to their families.”
