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Parade celebrates fire department's centennial

By Richard Weizel
STAFF WRITER

4/25/09

STRATFORD -- It isn't likely that when the town's first paid fire chief, Allen Judson, led a rag-tag crew of volunteers to fires on horseback in 1909 that the scruffy, hard-nosed chief was thinking much about what the department would be like 100 years later.

Or whether there might be a mile-long parade down Main Street, as there was on Saturday under sunny skies, with thousands of people lining the sidewalks and cheering as antique fire trucks rolled by blaring sirens.

Judson, who served as chief for 43 years, would have had a hearty laugh if someone suggested that to commemorate the 97-member department's centennial a female governor, M. Jodi Rell, would help lead a procession that included dozens of fire trucks, police and EMS vehicles from departments across Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

"What a milestone to reach 100 years as a department," Rell told a gathering of firefighters in front of Fire Headquarters, 2750 Main St., to kick off the parade Saturday morning. "After the events of 9/11 there does seem to have been a greater appreciation for the hard and dedicated work of first responders such as fire, police and EMS workers.

"I see it on the faces of children all the time when they look at firefighters and police officers," Rell said. "Now, today is a beautiful day, so let's go have a parade. Here's to another hundred years."

Rell, carrying a bouquet of flowers, was among those leading the parade and passing under a massive

American flag hoisted up by aerial ladder fire trucks from Stratford and Bridgeport There was plenty of pomp and circumstance, as Startford Mayor James R. Miron, new Fire Chief James Cavanaugh, state Rep. John Harkins, R-Stratford, and several town councilmen marched in the parade along with the Governor's Horse Guard, and Connecticut Firefighters Pipe and Drum Corps, bagpipers, and Bunnell High School's Drum Line and Color Guard.

There were also fire trucks from nearby communities such as Trumbull, Shelton, Oxford, Weston, Orange and New Haven, and from as far away as Old Saybrook, New Milford, Danbury, Waterbury and Ramsey, N.J.

Cars and trucks from Sikorsky Aircraft, the U.S. National Guard, State Police, the Shriners and other police and fire departments also took part in the parade.

But there was also the solemn sight of three Stratford firefighters carrying a helmet for each of the department's firemen who died in the line of duty; firefighter Lt. John Blersch, 1966; firefighter George Charak, 1987; and firefighter Michael C. Reilly, who served in Stratford from 2003-06, and died in the line of duty as a New York city fireman on Aug. 27, 2006.

"We can never forget firefighting is a dangerous job and we salute those who have given their lives in the line of duty," said Firefighter Steve Lupinacci, president of the Stratford Professional Firefighters Burn Foundation and chairman of the 100th anniversary event. Lupinacci said proceeds raised from the parade and festival will benefit the foundation.

"I'm just happy and excited to be here in Stratford as chief during the department's centennial," said Cavanaugh, who was named chief by Miron at the end of January. "This department has a great tradition and we're going to make sure that continues."

People along Main Street said it was one of the best parades they have attended.

"This was fantastic. I've never seen so many wonderful, old fire trucks in one place in my life," said life-long town resident Donna Sylvia, who cheered and waved to every parade participant that went by.

Sylvia was at the parade with daughter, Erica Sylvia and grandson Elijah Brooks, 3, who said he loves fire trucks.

"Wow, big fire trucks," said Elijah, pointing to some of the fire apparatus. "I want to go on one." A festival, with food booths and an array of vendors, bands and children's games, was also held a the end of the parade route, in the parking lots near the former Army engine plant and Sikorsky Memorial Airport, from 1 to 6 p.m.

"None of us will be here to see the department's 200-year celebration," Lupinacci said. "But when they have the bicentennial parade I hope they remember to mention what a great event we had for the hundredth."