I miss those old guys, and unfortunately I never took the opportunity to tell them how much they meant to us. The fire department will assign an administrator to communicate the guidelines and options. We are all blessed to have had the privilege of working alongside such an incredible person. In 1962, General Douglas MacArthur uttered these famous words during a speech that embodied the spirit of sacrificing oneself for a higher cause: Duty, honor, country. He offered gratitude to those he worked with along the way, words of wisdom and stories of lessons learned. 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. A photograph of a printed image of Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman in his early days at the fire department, taken during his retirement party at Station 1 in Menlo Park on June 28, 2021. You must enable JavaScript in your browser to view and post comments. Jason McKenna was promoted to Battalion Chief. WebAwards For Retired Firemen. 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." After a lifetime of hard work and dedication, retirement is a big milestone in life. In a brief speech given at the annual appreciation banquet in March, he shared On a more genuine note, I will certainly miss all of you and our great work here. Advertising Info The honor guard was followed by Mastandrea, his wife, daughter, two sons and his mother. Chief Avsec earned his bachelors degree from the University of Cincinnati and his masters degree in executive fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman at his retirement party at Station 1 in Menlo Park on June 28, 2021. WebThe current mandatory retirement age for a firefighter (in some areas) is 57, as long as they have served at least 20 years of covered service. The fire truck museum at the district's newly rebuilt Oak Grove Avenue site will bear his name. Become a Member Larry Over the years, Schapelhouman kept working in his chosen field, developing a specialty in urban search and rescue operations. Suicides witnessed and responded to. We're trained to be America's problem solvers, those people call when they don't know who to call. "We got as close to 60 kids getting incinerated that day as you can get," he said.It was even through the fire district that he met the woman who would later become his wife. Your health and wellness moves up on your list of life's priorities. Hauser Lake Fire Chief Transition in theNews, Hauser Welcomes New Fire Chief and Other News for Hauser LakeResidents, Parting Words from a VolunteerFirefighter. You know you're going into a fire driven building, but you're not just firefighters. Community Calendar We were not Chiefs, or Officers or Engineers, we were just new Firefighters starting our path in life as the rest of our generation trickled in, adding a few every couple months. No matter how much you complained, you will miss your fire service family within a relatively short period of time. 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. I survived fire life!! Promptly at 4 p.m., the sound of bagpipes filled the air At one point, a fight broke out, after which Menlo Park firefighters insisted that nobody could save spots in line.Schapelhouman made his way in the door for that written test and passed it easily. I am confident that if Harold had the choice, he would have been working at the pile in Sunrise Florida rather than being at this retirement ceremony. Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezosalso a senior Heartfelt/Serious Retirement Speech Example: Today I stand here proud, humbled, and emotional all at once. 3. A short retirement speech will allow you to be concise and still convey your message. 860. Blogs "I almost quit about six months in. This is particularly true for men, as research has demonstrated that lasting male relationships are closely connected with their work. Enter https://www.firerescue1.com/ and click OK. "I almost quit about six months in.". "We almost died that night," he recalled. 617-993-0003, Southern New England The bagpipe player walked away, continuing to play his music, as the fire engines headed out to answer the call. Experiences like that were especially scary because the responders didn't know what hazardous chemicals they might have been exposed to.And then there were the regular house fires with their own complexities, like when two overlapping roofs at a house on Altschul Avenue created a hidden fire, causing the roof to collapse immediately after a new fire chief had commanded him to step away. Then once we were in, we immersed ourselves in the fire service culture. You can't take it personally or you're going to be a basket case. "He became part of the district's first group of emergency medical technicians, and has seen the way first responders' skills have transformed from providing basic first aid to the more comprehensive responses that paramedics offer now. "After he returned, he said he helped to come up with a five-year agreement with the district's union that provided stability to the organization among other initiatives he's led since returning to the department after his injury. 2023-2029 "Speech Analytics Market" Insight, With 101+ Pages By IRB. 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. Its rare to find an employee so dedicated and engaged, and frankly, I dont know what we will do without them. Like any other written work, your retirement speech should have a narrative that walks through the main points clearly and concisely. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Chelmsford Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers, Andover Fire Rescue Welcomes Two New Members from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Concord Police and Fire Departments Respond to Crash into Assabet River, Acton Police Department Places Officer on Administrative Leave Following Arrest, Town of Ipswich Receives Metropolitan Area Planning Council Technical Assistance Grant. "It does take on a rhythm," he said. As is tradition, one by one the vehicles drove through the departments parking lot as Chief Partridge waved to his fellow chiefs and well wishers. Everyone's responses to the above will be different, but the one key for everyone is to plan for your retirement early in your career. Beyond his writing for FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com, Avsec authors the blog Talking "Shop" 4 Fire & EMSand has published his first book, "Successful Transformational Change in a Fire and EMS Department: How a Focused Team Created a Revenue Recovery Program in Six MonthsFrom Scratch.Connect with Avsec on LinkedIn orvia email. WebWe also wish to express to Chief Alderson on behalf of the entire Fire Department our heartfelt and sincere thanks for a job well done and to wish him a long, healthy and 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. 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. Most of all, Ill miss their bright and cheerful demeanor, always lifting the spirits of everyone around them with a smile and kind words. (Lets ask her again at day 100!) Its about saying goodbye while thanking everyone who helped you along the way. He eventually joined the fire class in Sunnyvale because it paid the best among local agencies, and it was there he fell in love with the art of fighting fire, he said.He spent time after high school working in commercial construction, and he credits that work for not just helping him to build fitness, but to develop an instinctual understanding of buildings, a skill that would set him apart later in a field dedicated to saving structures and their inhabitants during disasters.When he first found his way to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, which serves the communities of Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto and unincorporated areas including North Fair Oaks, it had what he described as a paramilitary culture.It wasn't an easy job, and there were plenty of dangers and lots of internal pressures within the department. As officers, we learn to maintain that delicate balance between being friendly on the job with firefighters and junior officers and lapsing into friendships that can be detrimental to the good of the order. WebFire Fighter Retirement Speech by Colleague. 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. The Almanac sat down with him on his last day to hear his reflections on a career spent dedicated to protecting and rescuing community members in their times of gravest need. 5 Retirement Speech Ideas with Examples 1. "The job essentially is bigger than any of us the responsibility to protect the community and serve the community," he said. I worked extremely hard. Webof New York (ACNY), the Retirement and Social Security Law (RSSL), and the rules of the Fire Department Pension Fund, the applicable laws will govern. 781-428-3299. Sleepily, he went with his friends to stand in line at the station near St. Patrick's Seminary to take the test. I received support from all of you.. At one point he received a vote of no confidence, which he said was "breathtakingly disappointing. 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. Although I wont be in this office anymore, there are still plenty of contributions yet to come from me and those like me who will carry this legacy forward into our respective futures. 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. I am thankful for the opportunities Ive enjoyed here to make a difference by working diligently on staff development initiatives, fundraising efforts, and day-to-day operations. At least age 55 with 10 But please dont envy my new freedom. He was also presented with a commemorative plaque with an American flag and a firefighters axe attached by Healey and Mills. "Fittingly, Schapelhouman's last day was dedicated to a ceremony to promote staff members of the fire district. These fire fighters retirement speeches convey light-hearted and warm retirement wishes and end with appropriate toasts. Speech Synthesis Software Market 2023 Dynamics, Major Players, SWOT Analysis, and Business Forecast to 2030 MRI Published: April 12, 2023 at 12:42 a.m. Many of my fellow retirees have remarked how busy they became after they retired. PR for Police, Fire, Schools and Municipal Government. You have that A Great Speech: A Firefighters Plea To Think Small Can you move an audience to action in just four minutes? Editors note: Check back with Patch for more video from the Walk-Out Ceremony.. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. A heartfelt or serious retirement speech is perfect for those who have put their life and heart into their career. Some notable accomplishments during their tenure here include: We will sorely miss their hard work, loyalty, and enthusiasm. The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los 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. Choosing what to wear was a lot easier when it meant grabbing a clean uniform. Leadership PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP: THE LOVE FOR THE JOB: CEREMONIES THAT STOKE THE FLAMES OF TRADITION 1.1.2005 BY RICK LASKY But if you follow the above guidelines and model after some of the example speeches, you can deliver a thoughtful talk filled with warmth, humor, and gratitude. I may be saying goodbye to my boss here, but it seems Im now a full-time employee of my spouse, and Ive heard he/she runs a tight ship. Over his years as a firefighter and first responder within the fire district, there were plenty of harrowing and traumatic calls, he remembers. We are looking for ECE qualified teachers and teachers assistants. 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.He and his team responded to the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, 9/11 in New York in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, among other disasters.Schapelhouman's daughter, now 21, was born just months after he returned from a trip abroad to provide search and rescue aid during the Chi Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999.Over time, Schapelhouman began to work more in the realm of fire prevention and advocacy. Larry Shapiro photo. .440 Police and fire department members in city of home rule class or urban-county government -- Qualifications -- Examination -- Tenure -- Reinstatement. This article, originally published on March 3, 2015, had been updated. It had five grueling challenges, and to be considered for the district, each candidate had to complete all five. After years of living on a work cycle (mine was 24 hours on and 48 hours off), you'll find yourself needing to adjust to the world of the 40-hour work week, especially if you take on another job. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Experiences like that were especially scary because the responders didn't know what hazardous chemicals they might have been exposed to. WebThe monthly amount of you pension is determined by your years of service. Express / Weekend Express The fall In May 2013, about seven years into his tenure as chief and after escaping unscathed from so many high-risk rescue situations, Schapelhouman was struck with a life-changing injury in his own backyard.He fell off a ladder while trimming bushes and suffered paralyzing spinal cord injuries and a traumatic brain injury. "Somebody has to go out and do the patient care.". 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. To my brothers and sisters who put the wet stuff on the red stuff, I would like to leave you with this from the History of the Worlds Greatest Fires: In Greek Mythology, Prometheus was a titan trickster who was said to have defied the gods by giving man fire. Thank you all for your encouragement and friendship I will never forget it. 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 pushed for other common-sense measures from local agencies like for the district's emergency response vehicles to be exempted from FasTrak fees and fines when crossing the Dumbarton Bridge during emergency responses.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.
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