Our Annual Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, January 9,.2016.  Over 200 Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary Members and their guests were in attendance.

Our Banquet Chairperson Cheryl Dennis welcomed everyone in attendance, introduces the Banquet Committee and introduced Past President Jasper Lakey for the Invocation.  The meal which was prepared by our Ladies Auxiliary earlier in the day was cooked and served by the Ladies and Men of the Christiana Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary.

As dinner was finishing up, our Master of Ceremonies Honorary Member Ken McMahon introduced the Guests and Career Staff that were in attendance.  Ladies President Nancy Migliavacca and Vice President Marilou Stewart then presented their Service Awards to the Ladies Auxiliary. [Once we receive the list we will add them here].  Ladies Member Eleanor Sutton received her Life Membership for 20 years.  The Ladies Auxiliary then presented a check in the amount of $40,000.00 to the Fire Company to be used for FIre Suppression and our EMS Services.  All the members of the Ladies Auxiliary were asked to stand and be recognize and were given a standing ovation by all in attendance,

The 2015 and 2016 Officers were introduced by President Wally Poppe.  The Fire Company Service Awards were then presented by President Wally Poppe and Vice Presidents Mike McMichael and David Jones.  Usually this is done by both the President and Chief but Chief Jamie Rosseel missed the Awards Banquet as he was on a business trip with his wife Michelle and daughter Elizabeth whom was there for both acting and modeling oppurtunities.

One member, Victor "Rusty" Smith Sr. received his 50 years of service award.  Then both Assistant Chiefs, Brett Neel and Brian Reeder assisted with presenting the Top Responders and Training Hours Awards.  The following Training Hours Awards were presented:  500 Hours - Tim Merlino, 1,000 Hours - Dave Hall, Lew Epright and Albert Schrack, 1,500 Hours - Dennis Layton Jr. and Albert Schrack, 2,500 Hours - Herb Netsch, 3,000 Hours - Jamie Rosseel and our first member achieving 3,500 Hours - Mike McMichael.  The Top Responders for 2015 were Charles Neel for Most Fire / Rescue Alarms, Patti Schrack for Most Ambulance Runs and Josh Sinex was the Top Totals Combined.

The Vincent Malloy / Michele Smith Emergency Medical Responder Award was presented to Past President Ed Kalinowski for his committment to our EMS Services.  The Chief Emeritus Charles Neel Award was presented to Assistant Chief Brian Reeder.  The Chiefs Awards were presented to Member Perry Harding, Ladder Captain Dave Hall and Chief Emeritus Charles Neel for their dedication the past year.

The President Emeritus Harry Bright Memorial Award was presented to his son, Harry J. Bright.  The Presidents Award went to Members Keith Lehman, Hall Manager Diane Guthrie and Immediate Past 1st Vice President Mke McMichael for their dedicaton for the past year.

The William C. Poppe Sr. Memorial Cadet of the Year Award was presented to Cadet Patrick J. Reeder for all of his assistance to both the Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary this past year.

Also Ladies and Fire Company Life Member Peg Poppe presented her annual donation of $1,000.00 to our Cadet Coordiantor Bill Sahm.

A plaque of Appreciation was given to the Delaware City Refinery Fire Chief Ron Dietrick for all of his assistance to the Fire Company this past year in assisting us with a Foam Trailer and training.

A plaque of recogniton was given to Member Wiliam Kiger V for becoming the 2nd member of the Fire Company to achieve the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

This years President Chiefs Award was presented to Past Chief Herb Netsch for all of his assistance that he provided both President Poppe and Chief Rosseel.

The last award of the eveing was the presitgous title of Chief Emeritus that was given to Past Chief Herb Netsch in recognition of his 52 years of dedicated service and his 6 years he served as Chief of the Fire Company.

Treasuer Jim Rosseel assisted by his wife Ladies Treasurer Sharon Rosseel and grandson Jonathan Rosseel then presented to all of the Ladies Auxiliary a small token of the Fire Companies Appreciation a gift card and red rose.

Then Treasurer Rosseel, his wife and grandson then presented on behalf of Chief Rosseel the Active Crew Award which was a wind shirt pullover.

The last recognition of the night went to President Wally Poppe from both State Representative Valerie Longhurst and State Senator Nichole Poopre for his year serving as President of the New Castle County Volunteer Firefighters Association.

The Benediction was given by Past President Jasper Lakey and then the Annual Slide Show was shown by Marine Captain Bill Sahm, Ladder Captain Dave Hall and Member Tim Merlino.

The night was then turned over to DJ Frank Torres of RockDat Entertainment.

The door prizes were given out and the 50-50 was won by Past President Ed Kalinowski.

A special Thank You to the Banquet Committe on anothe Great Job and to Bartenders Gina Garber-Smith, Michael Edwards and Robert McFarland.

Thank you to the Kennedyville Fire Company for the Engine Coverup until Sunday Morning and Member Josh Sinex and Assistant EMS Supervisor Michael Szczuka for working the Ambulance.