Village of Warwick celebrates First Responders Day

WARWICK — A visitor to the Village of Warwick on Saturday, Oct. 14, might have understandably assumed that police, fire apparatus and personnel had just responded to a serious emergency on Railroad Avenue.
But he or she would soon discover that this was just "First Responders Day," sponsored by the Village Sesquicentennial Committee to honor the Warwick Fire Department, the Warwick Emergency Medical Service, the Warwick Police Department and the Village of Warwick Department of Public Works.
Throughout the morning members of the Warwick Fire Department invited children to climb aboard vintage fire apparatus and also learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
The children also had an opportunity to play cops and robbers by sitting behind the wheel and special equipment in a real patrol car.
Although the first responder organizations serve the entire Town of Warwick, the Village Sesquicentennial Committee felt an obligation to honor the men and women who provide vital emergency services for the residents of the Village of Warwick.
The average resident may not realize how much time and effort goes into being a volunteer fire or ambulance worker.
These first responders spend countless hours on training, drilling and honing the skills necessary to answer the call for help at a moment's notice. They do it in a safe, efficient manner and for no reward other than the satisfaction that comes from helping their neighbor in an emergency.
During First Responders Day, members of the Warwick Fire Department manned an exhibit portraying the history of the Department.
Like the Village this year, the Warwick Fire Department will celebrate its own Sesquicentennial or 150th anniversary in 2019.
The public is invited to a history of the Department presentation in the Albert Wisner Public Library on Sunday, Dec. 10.
- Roger Gavan