I believe the groundhog just might have been wrong this time. Spring is just around the corner and I am sure all of us are ready for its arrival. It has been a busy winter with many activities we all attended. I know I am ready for the season to change and for the life to return to the trees and grass and for things to come alive again.
Winter Fire School was a huge success thanks to MU FRTI’s hard work. Thank you for the commitment to educate our emergency service personnel. I believe I saw and visited with many of you at the Expo on Friday.
Our annual Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial service is quickly approaching on May 20, at 9:00 p.m. for the Candlelight Service and May 21, at 10:30 a.m. for the Sunday morning services. Our speaker for Sunday morning will be a unique brother of the fire service.
Please consider this your personal invitation to participate in the honor guard, bag pipes, antique fire equipment, and any other task you desire. Just let me know, please. The commander for the honor guard this year is Fire Chief James Ludden of the Bolivar City Fire Department. All honor guards and color guards are invited to participate. Please contact Chief Ludden at 417-770-4312 or jludden@bolivar.mo.us if you are interested and that you will be attending.
I am looking for two (2) ladder trucks to fly the large flag at the Sunday morning services. If interested please let me know.
Missouri State Fair Fire Department is busy putting the final touches on our upcoming annual convention. If you have not done so please send your registrations in as soon as possible so they can plan accordingly.
Also if possible please send your contest registrations in to Captain Rob Erdel at roberdel@ktis.net so everything can be ready for Saturday morning. This will save the Contest Committee a lot of time preparing for the contest on Saturday morning. I hope there are many teams this year competing for the bragging rights as the best in the state. We all have so much fun competing and just being together as a big family.
Again, anyone wishing to participate or help with the Annual Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service, please contact me at chiefhoover@sbcglobal.net or 573-581-6235.
I would like to congratulate Chief Tim Bean on his appointment as the new Missouri State Fire Marshal. Tim will be a good advocate and will do an excellent job. Chief Bean has served FFAM as our 1st Vice President for several years and always given 100% effort to every task assigned. Thank you my friend.
With that said, I also thank Fire Marshal Greg Carrell for all of his years of service to the fire service across our great state. Greg’s heart is the fire service and I appreciate all he has accomplished while serving in the position of Fire Marshal. I also thank you as a friend.
Everyone have a great and safe spring. As always, your officers and board of directors of FFAM are always available if you have a need. Please contact one for assistance.
Kenneth Hoover
President
Fire Fighters Association of Missouri
FFAM
