On Tuesday evening, Schuylkill County officials met in front of the Humane Fire Company in Pottsville to announce a special parade and service for local first responders this weekend.
The Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters' Association held the press conference to announce to the media about their plans for the event on Sunday, August 30th, 2020.
On July 30th, the Firefighters' Association announced the cancellation of the 2020 Volunteer Firefighters' Association Convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cancellation not only left the event's host, the Ringtown Valley Fire Company, with a loss of money due to expenses, but the fire service of Schuylkill County was not able to honor their LODD's (Line of Duty Deaths) with their annual service which has been a tradition for 65 years.
As the Volunteer Firefighters' Association President, David Sattizahn stated "Like always, the fire service of Schuylkill County overcomes every obstacle thrown at us and COVID-19 is just another one of those obstacles".
Through the cooperation of the Firefighters' Association with Rev. Crawford, the Schuylkill County Commissioners, the Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Co., Pottsville Fire Department, Pottsville Area School District, Schuylkill County Department of Public Safety, Schuylkill County EMS partners, Schuylkill County Police partners, and Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association, the organization felt that a parade with a modified service would be a safe way to continue the tradition.
On the evening of Sunday, August 30th, 2020 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, all willing fire companies, police, and EMS may participate in staging their apparatus at Martz Hall in Pottsville. Ringtown Fire will have their Convention Mugs available for anyone wishing to purchase a mug or take some back to their own firehouses to commemorate the event.
From 6:00pm to 7:00pm, the silent procession of the apparatus led by the Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue apparatus, will leave Martz Hall and proceed through city which will include an archway at Centre Street. (Full route listed below).
While the procession is taking place, Rev. Crawford, Msgr. O'Connor, and Msgr. William Glosser will conduct a service from the Schuylkill County Emergency Operations Center which will be broadcast over a special operation channel and will be heard through all the apparatus via radio or from their home.
Additional Faith Leaders will also be along the route of the procession.
The procession will lead to the Nativity BVM High School where priests and ministers will bless the apparatus as they pass by and will mark the end of the procession.
Association President Sattizahn thanked everyone who helped make the event a reality. "It has been a monumental task to bring this service together while still maintaining the COVID-19 guidelines that we all must remember to follow". he said.
Minersville Police Chief and Police Association President Michael Combs said "We give thanks to the Firefighters' Association for this opportunity that brings all ambulance, fire, and police together and thats a good thing because each one of these people are out there everyday putting their lives on the line and especially in today's environment that isn't recognized."
Ringtown Valley Fire Chief Joseph Gilbert said "We would just like to thank the commissioners and the association. We were uncertain what was going to happen and when we cancelled it, they came up with this plan to help us defray the cost. With selling mugs, this will help us defray the cost of about $15,000 which we have invested. Once again we want thank you".
Pottsville Fire Chief Jim Misstishin said "There were some broken hearts at the time when we had to postpone this, we understand that. But the Memorial Service means a whole lot more than the convention, the parade, the trucks, the Memorial Service taking care of our own is what we need to do and having the police and EMS involved this year makes it special event".
Attending Tuesday's press conference along with President Sattizahn were the Schuylkill County Commissioners Gary Hess, Baron Hetherington, and George Halcovage, Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs, Pottsville Fire Chief Jim Misstishin, Joseph Gilbert and Joe Mickelsavage from the Ringtown Valley Fire, Scott Krater, Director of Schuylkill County 911, and Shelby Sattizahn from the Schuylkill County Emergency Management.
Procession/Parade Route
- Beginning at Martz Hall
- Travel down Laurel Street to Center Street
- From Center Street to Norwegian Street
- From Norwegian Street across Route 61 to Wolfe Street
- Then Wolfe Street up to Nativity BVM High School
Video of Press Conference
