Fairbury Firefighters Banquet

By Gordon HopkinsThe Fairbury Rural Fire Department (FRFD) held its annual Firefighter Appreciation Banquet at the Fairbury VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post # 3113 the evening of Friday, March 4, 2022.Senator Tom Brandt spoke at the banquet, pointing out that this was the one annual event he has never missed, not even during the COVID-19 pandemic.Brandt said, “A fireman is somebody that runs to the danger. As a firefighter or EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), you meet people on the worst days of their lives, often for the first time ever, and I don’t need to tell you what that’s like.”Brandt also discussed a number of legislative bills pending in the Unicameral and thanked Fairbury Fire Chief Kenny Krause, who has testified numerous times over the years in front of the Nebraska Legislature regarding several bills that could impact the fire department.County commissioners Gale Pohlmann and Mark Schoenrock were also in attendance and Schoenrock said a few words, “We have a lot of young people here tonight, that next generation, and, for me, I’m starting to get down to the end of the clock. We appreciate your dedication and your commitment.”In addition to the local speakers, Steve Hirsch, President of the Nebraska Fire Council, also spoke at length on a number of issues. NVFC (National Volunteer Fire Council) representatives Joel Cerny, and Justin Scamehorn were also in attendance, as was Brenda Jenny, NSVFA (Nebraska State Volunteer Fire Association) District 2 representative.A number of awards were handed out. Dan Lufkin, Jeff Barger and Randy Welsch were honored for 10, 20 and 30 years service, respectively. Lufkin and a number of other recipients could not be present, many because they were on duty at the time.Verl Schoenrock, who retired from FRFD as the last remaining charter member, was honored for 58 years service.Also receiving awards were Barry Schwab as top responder for 2021, Eddie Grummert for Chief’s Choice and Nathan Lintz for the new 832 Betterment Award.At the banquet was an empty table with two places set. The ‘empty table’ is a tradition among fire departments to honor those firefighters who have died in the line of duty. This event was especially somber because the honorees were a father and son. Captain Chris Parker, a 22-year veteran, passed away in 2021.His father, Darrell D. Parker, died at age 56 in 2014 after a medical emergency and vehicle crash, en route to a fire.A lighter portion of the evening was the raffle. A painting was won by Dustin Lovgren. Various items created from disused fire fighting equipment, including a grilling apron made from a coat and coasters made from an old fire hose. The most coveted item, however, was likely the lamp created by Amber and Brett Roger from a tank and a fire helmet, which now sits on an end table next to Krause’s chair.

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