44th Annual Michigan Firemen's Memorial Festival

A Word fromOurPresident.

Hello, my name is Fred Bradley, and I was elected President last March. I have been Vice President for the past 4 years. I became a member of MFMFC in 2014. I am retired and enjoy volunteering my time preparing the Festival. The Festival is important to me because it commemorates many unnoticed Heroes in the Fire Service. Some of these people made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

I would like to take a few minutes to invite you to the 44th Annual Firemen’s Memorial Festival. This year, we plan to have more educational training for young people and adults. Our intentions with this it to spark an interest in people becoming a part of the Fire Service. It is pretty evident as one drives around the state of Michigan there is a need for Firefighters, EMTs, and/or Paramedics.

Please take a look at our Event ’s schedule in this “Program Book.” The plan is to continue scheduling classes, demonstrations, and competitions. I would like to invite you to check our website which is www.firemensmemorial.com. We also have a Facebook page under the name: Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival Committee.

I hope you enjoy the festival and all of the different events and programs that we are putting on. I plan on meeting you at the Festival, so please come and introduce yourself.

Thank you for your interest in our Festival.

MichiganFiremen’sMemorialFestival

September 14-17, 2023

Schedule of Events

Thursday September 14th 2023

10 am Vendor Check-in and set-up. (call or text 989-275-5880 for an earlier time)

12 noon Vendor’s choice to open booth

4 – 8 pm “Family Night “ (no Longer Sunday)

Activities for Children teaching about Firefighting

Shows, Demonstrations, and hands-on fun things to do showing Fire prevention.

Friday September 15th 2023

9 am Vendor Check-in and set-up.

12 noon Vendor’s to open booth (no supply vehicles allowed on Grounds after noon)

2-12 pm Refreshments in Big Red Barn

(Must have Picture I.D.)

4 4-8 pm Bouncy Houses for Children

4-7 pm Registrations in the Command Post Waterball Registration Search and Rescue Registration

Bright Light Competition (Showdown)

4 pm Exercitation Training

7pm Bright Light Competition

(Judging begins Stay with your car)

9 pm Bright light 911 Memorial Parade

(only Lights Please Walkers may assemble at the corner of Fifth Steet and M-18 Lake sat)

8 pm –Midnight Music and Dancing in the Big Red Barn

(Badge required; Must be 21 with picture ID.)

Antique Fire Truck Display

Saturday September 16th 2023 9:00 AM

Everyone Welcome !

The Michigan State Firemen ’s Association Would like you to attend Memorial Services at the Memorial site on Robinson Lake Rd Along with the Service will be placing of Memorial wreaths by Loved ones, Friends, Departments, and other Civic and Service clubs.

Saturday September 16th 2023

9 am Parade Registration (if not preregistered)

12 noon Fire Equipment Parade Starts (route on M-76/Fifth St. though town to Ballanger)

Parade ends at Training Grounds with Flag Raising Immediately

12 noon Big Red Barn opens ( picture ID required)

1 12:30 pm Search &Rescue Competition Begins 12:30 pm Extrication Demonstration Begins

1:30 pm Waterball Competition Begins

1:30 Gray Towing Demonstration ( time may vary)

3:00 pm Gold Badge Auction (in Big Red Barn)

4 pm Fire Burns and Demos (at Gas Maze in back)

8 pm $1000 Raffle Drawing (winners announced)

8 pm -Midnight Music, Dancing, & Cornhole in the Big Red Barn

( Badge required; Must be 21 with picture ID.)

Events and Attractions All week end

Fire and Rescue Equipment Sales

Gray’s Air Cushion & Truck up righting Classes for Firefighters

Trolley rides (to site) until 4 pm Saturday Bouncy Houses for Children

Fire training Trailer for Children Free Rustic Camping

Vendor Sales (misc. items)

Firefighter Training Videos

Burning Demos

MFMFC Souvenirs

Sunday September 17, 2023 Pancake Breakfast 8 am Gone in the Big Red Barn

Sponsored By Higgins Twp. Fire Department

2023 Parade Marshal: William Foster

William (Bill) Foster’s parents were cattle farmers in Delta Township, Eaton County, Michigan. He went to school there and started college at Lansing Community College. He joined Delta township Volunteer Fire Department, where he held many ranks including Assistant Chief. Bill retired from Delta Fire Department after 27 years of service. Bill and his wife Joan have been married for 56years, raising two (2) sons, and having seven(7) grandchildren.

Mr. Foster began working for the Reo Motor Car Company in 1965. Reo made the transition to Diamond Reo Truck and then went bankrupt in May 1975. By that fall, a group of exReo personnel started to build trucks as a subsidiary of Form Rite in Charlotte, Michigan. Just a little over a year later, a group of businessmen got together and backed Spartan officers: George Sztykiel, Gerald Geary, John Knox, and William Foster. They formed an industrial development corporation backing Spartan so they could acquire a Small Business Administration loan to build the first plant at 1000 Reynolds Road.in Charlotte.

The first chassis was manufactured by Spartan in 1975. It had an FMC cab trimmed out and installed by Spartan and then delivered to FMC. The proud owner of the first rig was the Covington (OH) Fire Department. The Apparatus returned to Charlotte, Mr. Foster, and Spartan in 2014. It is on display as the OL’ No.1 (see picture below of Bill and his wife Joan.)

Mr. Foster has always been a mainstay in the fire service. Safety has always been a priority with Bill. He believes the best way to be safe is to be well trained. Bill has supported many distinct types of training. One of his pet projects was with SimTech which created Driving Simulators. It worked through computers and big screens and with the inside of a Spartan Cab, you actually feel like you are driving a fire truck. There are different scenarios for the driver to test their ability. Spartan and Bill Foster have been involved in Firefighter Safety since the very start. They also brought these simulators to our Festival and ran a driving competition. (above Bill is presenting a plaque to the highest scorer)

Bill ’s most memorable event happened in the wake of 911. After the Twin Tower collapsed, there was a lot of equipment damaged and buried. Spartan associates and suppliers donated labor and materials to build this engine. It was sent to the New York Fire Department, but it was never put in service. It was instead placed in the caisson division where it was used to transport firefighters to their resting place placing their names on the rear doors. When Hurricane Sandy hit the city, the engine was completely submerged setting in the city yard. It was sold as scrap to a scrap yard in New Jersey. The scrap yard owner contacted Spartan. They purchased it back in 2015 and proceeded to repair and refurbish the engine. It was restored to its original condition. Pictured on the next page, it is remembrance of 911.

Even after 60 years, you will still find Mr. Foster driving a Fire Chassis to a Fire Show, parking the vehicle, and then sitting on the front bumper. Talking to his many friends, customers, and explaining features of the Spartan chassis and equipment.

Many people of the Fire Services, Members of the Michigan State Firemen ’s Association, and the members of Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival Committee extend their upmost respect to William “Bill ” Foster. We also would like to thank you for your support and continued generosity..

Michi gan Firemen ’s Memorial Festiv al Parade

12:00 N oon

Following Me mo rial Se rvice

Departm ent/ Community Name

FIRE TRAINING GROUND VENDORS AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS are in front pending positioning at the Festival Grounds and Emergency Dispatch. Fill out all information as listed as it helps placement. You will be contacted with your position and directions.

Complete and r etur n r e gistr ation for m 1 week pr ior to event : Mail to: Sue Jock, 11218 Steckert Bridge Rd. Roscommon, MI 48653

Email to: sue.jock@gmail.com

Fax: 989-275-9252

I If you have not been notified about you position you must Register the day of the Parade. Registration is on Lake St (M -18) acr oss from the Cour t House starting at 8:00 am on the day of the parade.

Parade line up ONLY IF REGISTERED and have received your position, is along M-76 starting at Huntington Bank

Email Questions to: sue.jock@gmail.com ENTRY:

2:

entry if necessary, Including a business Card is helpful.

A UCTION

September 16, 2023 3:0 0 PM

The annual Gold Badge Auction, along with our COOR auction portion, will take place at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2023. Proceeds from the COOR auction goes toward purchasing needed learning tools for our local ISD/COOR students. This is an endeavor MFMFC has supported for sixteen years. Prior to auction day, we will accept donations of fire related items for the COOR portion.

The Gold Badge Auction is for special badges we issue every year. Those badges are auctioned to the highest bidder, and all proceeds go to help us put on the Festival. Eleven badges are printed, the first ten (1-10) plus one of the current Festival year (2023).

Badges come with an official Badge Certificate to certify the buyer's name, number of that badge won and the date of purchase. The auction takes place at 3:00 P.M. in the Big Red Barn, Saturday September 16, 2023.

Many individuals or departments purchase badges in honor of a fallen firefighter, or add to their personal collection. Certificates will have the name of the purchaser or honoree, so it can be placed on an honor wall, or near the patch collections at your fire station.

Norm Yoder, Auctioneer of Clare, Michigan has again agreed to serve as auctioneer for this event. We hope to see you there! Come join the fun!

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS 65 YEARS WED

Donna Thoma

Saturday, October 29, 2022, a small group of family and friends gathered at the Charles M. Engel VFW Post #4159 to surprise Bruce and Janette Lorion, in honor of their 65th wedding anniversary.

Bruce and Janette (Siderman) became high school sweethearts while students of Gerrish - Higgins High School in Roscommon. They were married October 26, 1957 at the Congregational Church of Roscommon. Glenda Eastman served as Janette's Maid of Honor and the late Chuck Baker served as Best Man to Bruce. Bruce and Jan had two children, Deborah Donnelly and the late Charlie Lorion. They have five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Bruce retired from Camp Grayling as Maintenance Supervisor, and Jan retired as AP Supervisor for the Department of State Social Services of Roscommon County. In addition, both they and their family have been active in many volunteer activities throughout the years. A former firefighter and Chief of Gerrish Fire Department, Bruce was instrumental in forming the first ambulance service in Roscommon County as well as the Michigan Firemen's Memorial Festival Committee. Janette is a past Director of the local Sweet Adeline's, and she and her sisters formed the “Sob Sisters,” singing many of the old “fun ” songs.

Over forty-four years ago, when presented with the question, “who would be willing to take on continuing entertainment the weekend of the Firemen's Memorial, ” it looked like no one would step up. Business members and the Roscommom County Firefighters Association who had done it since the beginning, felt they were no longer able to continue the effort. Bruce Lorion said “I will!” That was the beginning of the Michigan Firemen's Memorial Festival Committee, and the rest is history.

Bruce, Jan and their family have been wonderful supporters and volunteers, not only to the Committee, but to the Roscommon community as well.

Bruce expressed his appreciation to those who'd organized their anniversary celebration. Jan, upon being wished a happy anniversary said, “was nice to see so many family and friends. I don't get to do that much anymore. ”

BE FIRE SAFE!

Northern Michigan can have wild fire danger year round, unless we have several inches of snow on the ground. If you own a home or cabin in northern Michigan, there are certain precautions you should take to keep your lives and property safe from wildfire. Whether a permanent, part time resident, or part time camper, it is important to assess your property or camp area. Some important steps are as follows:

Step 1 - Assessing your property

* Do you border forested or brushy areas?

* Is there a substantial amount of tall, or leafy vegetation near your home or camp structure?

* Do tree limbs extend over your structures?

* Do you have a woodpile in close proximity to structures?

* Are fuel tanks nearby?

* Have you used wood chips or other dried vegetation in your landscaping?

* Is there clear access to your home for firefighters?

Step 2 - Create a defensible space by dividing your property into three zones:

* Clear debris, leaves and brush at least 30 feet out away from all structures on your property.

* Keep wood piles, storage sheds with fuel for mowers, gas powered tools, etc, 30-100 feet away, at minimum, from your main structures...home, cabin, garage.

* A good rule of thumb is to keep vegetative debris cleaned up at least 100-200 feet away if possible. (Keep leaves raked and removed)

Additional fire safe recommendations from the DNR are:

1. Keep campfires small and do not leave them unattended. Period!

2. Be sure to always have a bucket of water/garden hose and a shovel nearby to put the fire out.

3. Be certain all fires and barbeques are completely extinguished. Stir water into the embers, turning unburned pieces of wood/charcoal over to wet the underside. (Charcoal can stay hot for many hours, be sure to keep children away from expended coals.)

4. Be courteous and obey local ordinances for burn permits, & fireworks.

5. Avoid dropping sparkler wires into wooden garden mulch. Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Putting used sparklers and spent fireworks into a bucket of water ensures that they are completely out.

7. Fireworks will easily ignite grass or wooded areas and should be used only in areas free of vegetation.

8. When improperly used, fireworks that explode or fly into the air are the cause of many wildfires each year.

9. Using fireworks on public property is prohibited without authorization

SEARCH AND RESCUE CHALLENGE

Saturday September 16, 2023

12:30 PM Finish

Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival

“Bright Light” Show -down

Registration Form

Friday September 15, 2023

Line-up 6:30 PM Judging begins 7:30PM

Owner’s

Name____________________________________________

Address _________________________________________

City _________________________State__ Zip__________

E-MAIL _________________________________________

Department Name _______________________________

Department e -mail _______________________________

Vehicle Description

Year______ Make __________

Car ____

RV/Pick-up _____ Other______

Commercial _______

(Check one)

Bright Light Competition Rules

Registration at the Command Post

Vehicle must be registered before line-up begins at 6:30

Contestant cannot have any affiliation with any company that sells Emergency Lights.

Lights must be fused properly.

Wiring must be neat and properly placed as to not create a hazard.

Driver MUST remain in vehicle or it will be disqualified.

Driver MUST comply with Judge’s request to open area for visual judging.

A total of the judges scores will determine the winner.

In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided by the Audiences response.

Mailed to:

Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival Committee PO 672 Roscommon, MI 48653

MFMFC Water Ball Competition

Saturday September 16, 2023

Bring this form to Festival

Department __________________________________

Players

1. ___________________________________________

2.____________________________________________

3.______________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________

Address that you would like information and pictures sent to

ATT: Street Address__________________________________

City ______________________ State ___Zip__________

P hone # (_______) ___________________________

Contact Name __________________________________

Contact Ph. (_______) _____________________

Mail to:

MFMFC Waterball Competition P.O. Box 672

Roscommon, MI 48653

Trophy and Cash Prizes

WHAT IS A FIREFIGHTER?

A FIREFIGHTER IS:

T THE PERSON NEXT DOOR.

A MATURE PERSON WITH THE MEMORY OF A LITTLE CHILD WHO NEVER GOT OVER THE EXCITEMENT OF ENGINES AND SIRENS AND SMOKE AND DANGER.

A PERSON LIKE YOU AND ME WITH JOYS AND WORRIES AND UNFULFILLED DREAMS.

A PERSON WHO STANDS TALLER THAN MOST.

A PERSON THAT RUNS TO HELP OTHERS.

A PERSON WHO PUTS IT ALL ON THE LINE WHEN THE TONES DROP.

A PERSON THAT IS THE MOST FORTUNATE AND LEAST FORTUNATE OF PEOPLE, AT THE SAME TIME.

A PERSON WHO IS GENTILE FROM HAVING EXPERIENCED TOO MUCH OF THE AWESOME POWER OF VIOLENT FORCES OUT OF CONTROL.

A PERSON RESPONSIVE TO THE LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN FROM HAVING HELD SMALL BODIES THAT WILL NEVER KNOW LAUGHTER AGAIN.

A PERSON APPRECIATIVE OF THE SIMPLE PLEASURES...HOT COFFEE HELD IN NUMB, UNBENDING FINGERS...THE FLUSH OF FRESH AIR FILLING SMOKE -CONVULSED LUNGS … THE WARMTH OF A BED TO BONES AND MUSCLES TAXED BEYOND FEELING...

THE CAMARADERIE OF KINDRED SPIRITS...THE DEVINE PRACTICE OF SELFLESS SERVICE AND A JOB WELL DONE IN THE SERVICE OF ALL PEOPLE.

A PERSON WHO DOESN'T WEAR BUTTONS OR WAVE FLAGS OR SHOUT OBSCENITIES, BUT A PERSON WHO, WHEN THEY MARCH, MARCHES TO HONOR FALLEN COMRADES.

A PERSON WHO DOESN'T SIMPLY PREACH THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN, BUT LIVES IT.

Author Unknown

MFMFC Membership 2023

Board Members

President -Fred Bradley Doug Hodges Trustee

V. P. - Cody Parr Ed Thoma Trustee

Secretary- Phil Smith Calvin Witherspoon Trustee

Treasurer -Dar Smith Jennie Stead Trustee

Past Pres -Ed Sedlacek

Active Members

Riley Davis

Debbie Emery

Phil Lumsden

Al Smith

Jim Bradley

Terry Gallagher

Jan Lorion

Tom Raymond

Shirley Reilly

Gerald Wall

Cody Doyle Jacob Edwards

George and Marilyn Fergusson

Don Nickel Patrick Parr

Donna Thoma Jason Biery

Associate Members

Ron Bradley Mark Constance

Brad Jackson Bruce Lorion

Faye Nickel Ed Pearen

Vickie Raymond Tim Schimmel

Mary Smith Roy Spangler

Mike Nau Leeanne Bradley

MFMFC Window DisplayAt John C. Mackie Center

When you Travel in Northern Michigan, especially with children and/or pets, it never fails that you need a potty stop. On the northeastern corner of the City of Clare, where US127 and US10 cross is the John C. Mackie Welcome Center. While you are stretching your legs, take a look around at the display cases to see if you can spot our display. This photograph is from August 2022. The display for 2023 will be set up August 1st through October 31, 2023. Thanks to the Center for promoting the Michigan Firemen’s Memorial Festival.

NEED WE SAY MORE? WE ARE YOUR ONE STOP SHOP !

NEED WE SAY MORE? WE ARE YOUR ONE STOP SHOP !

NEED WE SAY MORE? WE ARE YOUR ONE STOP SHOP !