Think about how many retired firefighters finally get surgeries for those knee and shoulder problems that they've been putting off for years. On his third day back at work, Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman leaves Interim Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Belville's office for a board meeting on Jan. 9, 2014. He brought in attorneys to push for his return to the chief position, and took steps to ensure he could still do the job well, like finding specialists to evaluate him and securing the right adaptive equipment. "Can you do that?" Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). He had been passed over in his first effort to join the Los Altos firefighting staff and had recommitted himself to his college coursework. It was always much easier to shop, make doctor appointments, schedule vacations and the like when weekday hours were fully in play. At last weeks Board of Commissioners Legislative meeting on August 8, 2017, Covington Fire Department Captain Dan Frederick, Battalion Chief Seth Poston, Assistant Chief Chris Black, and Engineer Nick Nazzarine announced their retirement after 120 years of combined service, effective August 31, 2017. Spotlight Its rare to find an employee so dedicated and engaged, and frankly, I dont know what we will do without them. Don't miss out on the discussion! 617-993-0003, Southern New England All rights reserved. That transition, he said, "has been a huge evolution in patient care. If you choose to make a funny retirement speech, be sure it is not offensive and still conveys your genuine appreciation for your colleagues. Schapelhouman was introduced later that night at the Oasis (a beloved Menlo Park watering hole that shuttered in 2018), and the two stayed in touch while she attended college in Santa Barbara. Sleepily, he went with his friends to stand in line at the station near St. Patrick's Seminary to take the test. I miss those old guys, and unfortunately I never took the opportunity to tell them how much they meant to us. speeches were made about great victories, battles fought upon the open sea, raging storms weathered, and voyages to distant and strange lands with ports-of-call others only dreamed about. Though my time has come to an end, lets not forget why we are here tonight: remembering and celebrating all of you for all that you do in service to this community. He finally took on the role March 31, 2006, after he was told that if he didn't, the next chief would come from outside of the district. Visitor Info, Send News Tips Uploaded: Sun, Jul 11, 2021, 8:29 am Understand The Difference Between Resigning And Taking Early Retirement, Understanding the 5 Emotional Stages of Retirement and How to Deal With Them. LeadershipThings were going well with his search and rescue work and legislative advocacy when he was tapped to become the next fire chief. The most important was the City of Covington sleeps.from 5:24 a.m. to 5:27 a.m., Tuesday's, in Spring, every other year, when its 68 Degrees and relative low humidity. Opportunity is first, to start that first day of drill school, be given a chance to show what you have learned, and prove, what you can do with that knowledge, an opportunity to make the difference in someone's life, most likely on the worst day of theirs, to be the Company's Front Firefighter on the nozzle of a good hot building on fire, putting it out and being able to say, " We did that." "We were given the "Opportunity," we so badly wanted. The hardest was a timed test that required carrying more than 120 pounds of equipment up a training tower, and many strong-looking candidates were failing. He and his colleagues found and rescued an abandoned newborn from a dryer near Whiskey Gulch and named him Walter Millschap, a portmanteau of their names.They succeeded in safely evacuating every child from a 1997 fire at Green Oaks Academy in East Palo Alto despite extremely hazardous conditions, including a faulty fire alarm and no sprinkler system. The Fire Service is not just a job or just a profession but rather it is a Calling. 1 prepared to leave. Kate Bradshaw reports food news and feature stories all over the Peninsula, from south of San Francisco to north of San Jos. Through it all, he worked at mastering the art of staying professional through the trauma by seeking to do justice to the grand calling of firefighting, many people's last line of defense in the face of grave danger. He channeled lessons about detail orientation he'd picked up from his father and his accountant brother as a youth, and kept working at it, he said. What an amazing person! Schapelhouman made his way in the door for that written test and passed it easily. .442 Authorization for civil service commission in city with population of 8,000 or more -- Rights of employee accepting management position. "The job essentially is bigger than any of us the responsibility to protect the community and serve the community," he said. Many retirement speeches happen in spaces where we need to be brief, such as a Zoom meeting or other virtual space. Begin early in your firefighting career and focus on your career expectations, long-range financial plans, and the importance of developing a career and retirement plan in general. Many others worked for two or three paid-on-call services or comboed a fire department job with an EMS gig before getting that one job that paid enough to make it their sole fire service endeavor. Your health and wellness moves up on your list of life's priorities. Blogs Put together a party itinerary for activities and catering, then talk to a few key people about giving planned toasts to the retiring firefighter who is being honored. But there were victories too. The last call, also known as a bell service, may feature bagpipes and a dispatch call. He recalled responding to a call at an SRI building that wasn't marked from the outside, but inside had signage indicating the presence of radioactive materials. In his research, Bates found that 95.7 percent of his survey's participants felt that their retirement was successful. WebThe Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD held a ceremony on Saturday (7/18/15) at their board meeting to promote two new lieutenants and two new battalion chiefs. Coming back wasn't easy, he said. This article, originally published on March 3, 2015, had been updated. Over time, Schapelhouman began to work more in the realm of fire prevention and advocacy. Years later we found ourselves saying the same things, teaching the same things and protecting the next generation in the same manner. "The job essentially is bigger than any of us the responsibility to protect the community and serve the community," he said. Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. For many of us, that journey started in the volunteer ranks where we cut our teeth in the business. I detailed a decent rant for you all, Express / Weekend Express Senate Resolution No. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman gives a speech at his retirement party at Station 1 on June 28, 2021. Projects around the home that Ive masterfully avoided with But Ive gotta work excuses are already on a list taped to the fridge. "Every single day you've got to do the job, whether your body's cooperating or not cooperating. Heres a view from one of the newest retired firefighter wives on day one of retirement. Its been an honor and a privilege to have been part of this organization for the last XX years. Eastons been a wonderful place to work and Ive been honored to have led this great department, Partridge said during his speech at Wednesdays event. Most firefighters I've ever had the pleasure to know have worked hard to get their first job. Use these pointers as a checklist that you can refer to when putting together your retirement speech. This strategy allows you to focus efficiently on most of your speech and brainstorm ideas for a strong opening. After a career of shouldering those kinds of duties, it can be difficult to wake up one day as a team of one. Consider these retirement target hazards and pre-plan accordingly. "We almost died that night," he recalled. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Leadership PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP: THE LOVE FOR THE JOB: CEREMONIES THAT STOKE THE FLAMES OF TRADITION 1.1.2005 BY RICK LASKY 8 Prospect St. They succeeded in safely evacuating every child from a 1997 fire at Green Oaks Academy in East Palo Alto despite extremely hazardous conditions, including a faulty fire alarm and no sprinkler system. The Green Oaks Family Academy Elementary School Fire Protection Act became law in 2002, but Schapelhouman expressed disappointment that the legislation didn't cover existing school campuses, just new ones. He credits the community and the staff of the district for shaping his life in a profound way. Schapelhouman said he dropped the bag twice on his way up and was sure he would fail, until, finding an inner well of strength, he threw the bag up the last few stairs and jumped on top of it, with two seconds to spare. Choosing what to wear was a lot easier when it meant grabbing a clean uniform. As you bid farewell to your work life and embark on a new chapter in life, a well-written speech will serve as an inspiring reminder of all that has been accomplished. "We got as close to 60 kids getting incinerated that day as you can get," he said. The district board also had its own concrete step to commemorate Schapelhouman's legacy in the community. Published: April 15, 2023 at 8:37 a.m. This is a real chance for you to shine and to pay tribute to comradeship.Having shared so much over the years youll want a professionally written fire fighter retirement speech by colleague that covers all the bases and that is exactly what you will get. 5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples 1. Main Office Or enter your email address here to subscribe for ALL updates from JGPR and our clients. WebIt's not something that may happen casually. Become a member today. He played a pivotal role in creating Menlo Park's urban search and rescue team, and was called upon to respond to some of the worst national and international disasters of the past decades. As we progress through the ranks, our circle of friends and colleagues shrinks. After 40 years in the field, Schapelhouman said he's proud of the financial direction the district as well, over the course of his career seeing a transition from firefighters being equipped with substandard gear to top-of-the-line technology, including an ambitious drone program, earthquake warning systems and thermal imaging equipment. I will miss all of you tremendously and hope to stay in touch to see how everyone is doing. Every department is different, but the common denominator is the people who go out there and do the job. The farewell celebration took place at Easton Fire Station 3. Fail one, and you were out.The hardest was a timed test that required carrying more than 120 pounds of equipment up a training tower, and many strong-looking candidates were failing. From the commissioners to our members husbands and wives, the dedication each and every one of you has to this Department, community, and the people you all help every day is truly commendable. Every department is different, but the common denominator is the people who go out there and do the job.. Frederick thanked the Covington Fire Department of both previous generations and the current for their leadership, dedication and commitment. These fire fighters retirement speeches convey light-hearted and warm retirement wishes and end with appropriate I received support from all of you.. But it's hard to beat the sense of satisfaction that comes after you and your crew handled the difficult fire or motor vehicle crash or complicated rescue. Farewell Type of Retirement Speech 2. He credits the community and the staff of the district for shaping his life in a profound way. Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezosalso a senior Here are a few things that you can expect to experience once you hang up your turnout gear for the last time. Salutes were given by all fire department personnel in attendance, which included not only Lake Zurich firefighters, but also representatives of many departments from Buffalo Grove to Skokie. Then once we were in, we immersed ourselves in the fire service culture. Thank you for your camaraderie and support throughout these years. Im excited to travel, catch up with old friends, and find a few part-time projects where I can share my hundred years of experience. 781-428-3299. "Every single day you've got to do the job, whether your body's cooperating or not cooperating. served with the Chesterfield (Virginia) Fire & EMS Department for 26 years. Expand on your ideas with the right tone. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, , "Successful Transformational Change in a Fire and EMS Department: How a Focused Team Created a Revenue Recovery Program in Six Months, Open the tools menu in your browser. I will look back at my time in the fire service and smile knowing that my service was meaningful. "The most satisfied retirees tended to be those who planned for their retirement several years in advance.". I was able to do that. Nothing says you've moved into the second half of life's football game like retirement. A firefighter responds to alarms on duty and this ceremony is a reminder of their sacrifice. Eastons been a wonderful place to work and Ive been honored to have led this great department, Partridge said during his speech at Wednesdays event. Branding presented the flag to Mastandrea, commemorating his 21 years of service as village fire chief. Remarks at Bloomington Fire Department Awards Ceremony Page last updated on February 18, 2020 at 10:15 am Thank you for the chance publicly to acknowledge my gratitude to all of you, whether you are receiving an award today or not -- all heroes, and we are all grateful to you. he recalled asking. "They gave it the best college try they could give it, but he didn't make it," he said. He is a 2001 graduate of the National Fire Academy's EFO Program. Editors note: Check back with Patch for more video from the Walk-Out Ceremony.. Im proud of the accomplishments and improvements weve made in the department and I know Im leaving it in great condition., Client News, Fire News ceremony, Chief Kevin Partridge, Easton Fire Department, retirement. "Over his years as a firefighter and first responder within the fire district, there were plenty of harrowing and traumatic calls, he remembers. These relationships made coming to work each day a pleasure rather than a chore. The City of Covington thanks Captain Frederick, Battalion Chief Seth Poston, Assistant Chief Chris Black, and Engineer Nick Nazzarine for their years of service. As the bagpipe music continued, the fire department doors opened and an honor guard filed out. Jason McKenna was promoted to Battalion Chief. interacts online and researches product purchases After XX years of dedicated service, Im finally ready to take on my next journey. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman in his office on this third day back at work, Jan. 9, 2014. 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