On April 2nd, The Lionville Fire Company held its annual recognition banquet in honor of the volunteers, and our mutual aid companies for their dedication and support to making our company such a great success. About 60 people attended this year's banquet which was held at Timothy's in Lionville.

Firefighter Bobby Kagel served as the evening's Master of Ceremony. Fire Police Captain Joel Gramling delivered the invocation, remembering our members who have passed away and those that have died in the line of duty.

A recliner was raffled off courtesy of Gary Moore and Moore's Furniture located on Pottstown Pike in Upper Uwchlan.

During the award ceremony, the following members were recognized:

Special Service Award: Jim Kusnierczyk

Firefighter Of The Year: Jim McFadden Jr.

5 Years Of Continuous Service: Mike "Pike" Holmes

10 Years Of Continuous Service: Bob Edwards, Mike Esterlis, Tom Tolento

15 Years Of Continuous Service: Pat Boyle, Charlie Lobb, Jim McFadden Sr.

25 Years Of Continuous Service: Lee Ruth

30 Years Of Continuous Service: Sheryl Drach

35 Years Of Continuous Service: Linda Gramling

40 Years Of Continuous Service: Bill Minahan

In addition, Fire Chief Mike Holmes and Deputy Chief Bill Minahan presented outgoing Chief Mike Chapman with a personalized helmet to thank him for his leadership and devotion as chief for the last 4 years.

Lionville Fire Company recognizes it's not just the membership that makes the Fire Company work as well as it does, it's also the spouses, family and other partners that allow our membership to make such a big dedication to the Fire Company. While we thanked every one of them at the banquet, we give a special thank you to the Chiefs' wives: Janice Chapman, wife of Past Chief Chapman; Tina Minahan, wife of Deputy Chief Minahan, and Pam Holmes, wife of Chief Mike Holmes. These giving women each received a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Special thanks to The Keystone Valley Fire Department for covering our Fire District during this event.

Congratulations to all those that were recognized at this year's banquet and the entire membership for their hard work and dedication in 2015. We look forward to having an even more successful 2016.