The Village of Eldorado recognized its volunteer fire personnel in a special ceremony on Wednesday, May 8, celebrating more than 175 combined years of service. Firefighters recognized included certified personnel: Robert Cook, 37 years; Chief Marlan Hart, 36 years; Kent Unger, 34 years; Joseph Denny, 20 years; Michael Marshall, 14 years; Cory Hart, 10 years; Richard Larson, 8 years; Nathaniel Gray, 7 years; Russel Klinger, 5 years, and Mark Gilden, 2 years; and uncertified, Kevin Kimball, 3 years and Christian Loveless, 1 year, and cadet Dallas Pieratt, 2 years.
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
ELDORADO — The Village of Eldorado recognized its volunteer fire personnel in a special ceremony on Wednesday, May 8, celebrating more than 175 combined years of service.
“One of our council members had talked about trying to recognize our fire department and I realize it’s been a long time since we’ve done that. So, I put together a quick little recognition,” Mayor Tiana White told those in attendance.
“I wish I could do more, because you certainly all deserve a lot more. I was looking over the information I was given for the small size of our department. I found it totally overwhelming when I added up the years of service combined for everybody on our department with only 13 members. We have 179 years of combined service.
“I think that is totally amazing, almost two centuries worth of combined service,” she continued.
“The other thing that I think is fascinating to me, and I know that I’ve heard from some of you that other departments sometimes try to make fun of us, is that you you’re not on a ‘real department’ because you’re not paid,” she said. “But to me the fact that you remain a volunteer department is one of the things that makes all of you more special to me. You are willing to not get paid, to let the money that the village gives the department go directly to the department for your equipment, things that you need — and do this all volunteer. And again, I find that totally amazing.
“I do some volunteer work myself,” White continued. “And I know these days, it’s hard to get anybody to do anything as a volunteer, that they’re not getting paid for. And the fact that you guys still want to remain that way, and keep it that way, I think is a testament to all of you here in the room.”
Firefighters recognized included certified personnel: Robert Cook, 37 years; Chief Marlan Hart, 36 years; Kent Unger, 34 years; Joseph Denny, 20 years; Michael Marshall, 14 years; Cory Hart, 10 years; Richard Larson, 8 years; Nathaniel Gray, 7 years; Russel Klinger, 5 years, and Mark Gilden, 2 years; and uncertified, Kevin Kimball, 3 years and Christian Loveless, 1 year, and cadet Dallas Pieratt, 2 years.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
