News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Fire Chief Tay Robertson presented volunteer Brett Miller with a shadowbox commemorating his National Guard and fire department service.
The past year was a good one for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department. Fire department personnel and their families celebrated that year with a banquet and awards ceremony at Sisters Fire Hall on Saturday night.
"We've had many accomplishments over the years - and we're sitting in one of them," said Fire Chief Tay Robertson.
He was referring to the new Sisters Fire Hall, which was completed last spring. The new facility offers improved equipment bays and housing for full-time staff.
The evening was highlighted by a couple of touching moments. Sisters Hero Quilters kicked off the ceremonies with the presentation of a quilt to the fire department. The Sisters organization started by making quilts to honor soldiers in harm's way, but in this case they expanded their scope.
"We also want to honor all heroes and because you are all heroes, we wanted to make something special for you," said presenter Susan Humiston.
The quilt will be prominently displayed in the lobby of the fire station.
While the event honors all the firefighters of the district, one volunteer merited special recognition just for being there. Brett Miller, a longtime volunteer was seriously wounded by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq with the Oregon National Guard.
A closed head injury forced him into extensive rehabilitation literally for years. Now he has returned to volunteer with the Sisters Fire Department and Fire Chief Tay Robertson made special recognition of his return.
He crafted a shadow box that includes Miller's unit patches surrounding a Sisters Fire Department patch.
Miller proudly accepted the gift, then offered Robertson a "touché." He presented a fire ax he had crafted using the head of an ax that belonged to a friend who perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The handle was crafted from a laminate using South American purple heart wood and Miller's own Purple Heart decoration was inlayed into the handle. Miller offered up the ax to the department.
"This is yours," Miller told his fellow firefighters. "You guys contacted me more than friends, family, my unit. It was all you guys. Just glad to be back."
The firefighters and guests rose as one to offer Miller a standing ovation.
In his remarks, Chief Robertson expressed his confidence that the department will weather the current economic storm and learn and grow. He emphasized a need for a heightened level of compassion for those hit by the stresses of personal emergencies coming on top of hard times.
"I ... urge you to be sensitive and caring to our friends, neighbors and customers as they struggle with their own challenges," he said. "Give them extra time and care on that EMS call, ensure that they always receive the best of service. We will continue to care for those who cannot pay their ambulance bills due to hardship, we will forgive or adjust their bill rather than (forcing on them) the harsh reality of the collection agency. We will continue to treat one another respectfully and as a family."
Chief Robertson awarded length-of-service pins, then moved into the honors of the evening.
Volunteer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year honors went to Bill Hayes. Chief Robertson noted that even as a recent addition to the department, Hayes brings a high degree of commitment and extraordinary skills.
Liz McKittrick was named Rookie of the Year. (She also led the decorating team preparing the fire hall for the event.)
EMT of the Year was Ben Bruegeman. Evan Jarvis was Student of the Year.
Bill and Sana Hayes (a department Chaplain) earned the "coveted" Water Shovel award, which immortalizes a "no harm/no foul" mistake.
That award concluded the evening on a humorous note, but those in attendance departed into the cold, snowy night warmed by a renewed sense of camaraderie and family.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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