On Saturday, January 3, 2015, members of the Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary attended the Annual Awards Banquet.   Banquet Chairperson Cheryl Dennis welcomed our members and introduced Past President Jasper Lakey for the Invocation.  Life Member Mark Breeding then did a beautiful presentation of what it means to be a First Responder. 

Our Ladies Auxiliary spent the morning preparing our meal for tonight and once again the Ladies Auxiliary of the Christiana Fire Company served a delicious meal.  Once dinner was finished, Chairperson Dennis introduced our Master of Ceremonies, Delaware State Fire Marshal Grover Ingle.  Fire Marshal Ingle then introduced the guests that were in attendance. 

Ladies Auxiliary President Nancy Migliavacca and Vice President Marilou Stewart then introduced the 2014 and 2015 Ladies Officers.  Service Awards were presented to the Ladies that were present.  President Migliavacca then announced a new award for the Ladies Auxiliary, the President Emeritus Jane Neel Award.  This year’s recipient was Charles I. Neel.  The Ladies then presented a small token of appreciation to the Cadets who assisted them the past year.  Then President Migliavacca and Vice President Stewart presented a check of $30,000.00 to the Fire Company to be used for Turnout Gear and SCBA Mask purchases.  A standing ovation was given to our Ladies Auxiliary.

Chief Jamie Rosseel and Past President Ed Kalinowski presented the Service Awards to those members in attendance.  Ramon B. Armstrong Jr. and Daniel A. Wagner were recognized but not in attendance for becoming our new Support Life Members for 25 Years of Service.  Being recognized for 50 Years of Active Service was our Treasurer / Past Chief Jim Rosseel.  Jim’s wife Sharon gave a small presentation in regards to his 50 years of faithful service.  Henry Walton who wasn’t in attendance was recognized for his 70 years of service.

Honorary Memberships were presented to our State Representative Valerie Longhurst and State Senator Nicole Poore in recognition of their continued support to the Delaware City Fire Company.

The Cadet Program donated to the Fire Company a Setcom Communications System for Engine 15-5.  Life Member [of both the Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary] Peg Poppe made her annual $1,000.00 donation to the Cadet Program.

Then Chief Rosseel presented the Fire School Awards and Top Responders for 2014.  Members receiving recognition for Fire School Hours were as follows:  500 Hours of Fire School – Dillan Hoffman, Christian Jackson – Puglisi and Bill Sahm, 1000 Hours of Fire School were Ron Hallett, Brian Reeder and Laurie Smith and for 1500 Hours of Fire School were Allan MacKenzie and Jim Watson.  The Top Responder for EMS Runs was Patti Schrack with 196, Most Fire / Rescue Alarms was Charles Neel with 418 and the Most Runs Totals Combined was Josh Sinex with 945.

Past President Kalinowski then presented his President Awards to Cheryl Dennis for years of handling our Hall schedule among the other things she does for our Organizations and to Jim Watson for his recognition for his term as President of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association.  Receiving the President Emeritus Memorial Harry Bright Award was Jasper Lakey in recognition for his many years as a Board of Director.

Chief Rosseel and Past President Kalinowski then presented the William C. Poppe Sr. Cadet of the Year Award to Nick Neel.  Cadet Neel was one of our top responders, attained over 100 hours of fire school and assisted the Ladies Auxiliary on numerous occasions all while achieving honor roll during the school year.

The President – Chief Award was presented to Chief Emeritus Charles Neel for his unselfish devotion during the past year.  Chief Neel has continued his remarkable streak of 65 plus years of Active Service.

Chief Rosseel then presented the Chiefs Award to Rescue Captain Allan MacKenzie for is all of his help with the Fireboat before and after the accident and Past Chief Herb Netsch was recognized for his over 70 hours of commitment to our Drivers Training Program.

Deputy Chief Wally Poppe was recognized with the Chief Emeritus Charles Neel Award for his devotion to service during the year.

Chief Rosseel then presented the Chief Arthur B. Hope Heroic Firefighter of the Year Award to Victoria [Watson] Havens for her efforts on the night of the Fireboat 15 accident.  She was recognized along with former Career Staff Andrew Plotts [who couldn’t be in attendance due to work] for their heroic actions during the Fireboat 15 accident.

Chief Rosseel then presented Past President Kalinowski a plaque of appreciation for his term as President.

Chief Rosseel and Past President Kalinowski then presented a hooded sweatshirt to the Active Crew for 2014.  They also presented each of the active Ladies Auxiliary Members with a gift card and rose and presented flowers to each of their wives.

State Fire Marshal Ingle provided some final remarks and the night was turned over to RockDat Entertainment DJ BUG, Frank Torres.

During the night a collection was taken for our Brother Firefighter Dan Callaway and a total of $350.00 plus was raised.  The Fire Company matched that total and the Ladies Auxiliary pledged to make it an even $1,000.00.

The 50-50 was won by our Cadet of the Year Nick Neel.  As with our tradition, the members prepared breakfast for one another after 1AM.  A great night was had by all our members and we would like to thank the Cheswold Fire Company and the David C. Harrison American Legion Post #14 for covering our fire district tonight and Gina Smith, Robert McFarland and Mike Edwards for being our bartenders for the night.

Thank you to the Banquet Committee for once again for providing another wonderful banquet.  

All photos are courtesy of DCFC Photographer David "Pop" Jones.