On Saturday, January 24th, Members from the Delaware City Fire Company and guests gathered in the Memorial Hall for our annual banquet. The evening started with cocktails and prior to dinner being served, The Delaware State Fire School presented an EMT Certification posthumously to Michelle Smith as she was scheduled to start the EMT class this month. Dinner was catered by Le Chateau Gourmet. Following dinner, the Ladies Auxiliary presented a check to the Fire Company for $35,000 (that’s a lot of stuffed chicken breasts being served!). During the awards portion of the evening – the following awards were presented: President-Chief Award – Mike Miklus; President Emeritus Harry Bright Memorial Award – John Atkinson; Presidents Award – Francis Walker, Cheryl Dennis, Herb Netsch, Ed Kalinowski, David Carpenter, Dennis Godek and Kevin Wilson; Chief Emeritus Award – Wally Poppe; Chief’s Award – Mark Breeding, Bob Neel; Cadet of the Year Award – Dennis Layton, Jr.; Vincent F. Malloy Memorial First Responder Award – Michelle L. Smith and Chief Arthur B. Hope Jr. Memorial Heroic Firefighter of the Year – Michelle L. Smith. Honorary Memberships were given to Gordon Lester, Jim Insley and Emily A. Burge. Many service awards for years of service to the company were also presented. The Active Crew of both the Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary were given a blanket with the Fire Company Emblem on it. The awards were followed by a great slide show composed by Bill Hart. Dancing, fun and socializing followed. Music was provided by DJ Clay Wessel. Breakfast was then cooked and served (Thanks to Kelly & Tony Morales and Jim Watson for doing the cooking). The officers and members of the Delaware City Fire Company would like to thank Odessa Fire Company and David C. Harrison American Legion Post #1 for providing Fire and EMS over-ups for the evening, and Hank Smith, Julie Saville and Gina Smith of the Christiana Fire Company for bartending for the evening.