By Ruth Melville

In honor of Firefighters Day, held every year on September 6, the State of Connecticut chose this year to recognize the fine work of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD).

On the quiet, sunny late afternoon of September 4, the members of the NVFD, resplendent in their dress uniforms, gathered behind the firehouse to receive their award. A small group of friends and family were on hand, including all three of the town’s selectmen, Sue Dyer, Leo Colwell and Josh DeCerbo, and two local state officials, State Representative Roberta Willis and State Senator Kevin Witkos. Jon Barbagallo, second assistant fire chief, welcomed the visitors and said that the fire department was “ecstatic that we were chosen for this honor.”

On hand to present the citation was Howard Gomme, who led the 1988 campaign to establish an annual Firefighters Day in the state. Gomme comes from a firefighting family, and he chose the date September 6 because it was the birthday of his grandfather, a firefighter and a fire commissioner. He said that “the reason I’m here is to honor everybody in the fire department. They’re great—whether career or volunteer.”

In accepting the citation, NVFD Fire Chief Matthew Ludwig thanked Gomme, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, the state legislature and the town selectmen. With that, the official part of the festivities was over, and much to the excitement of the small children in the audience, the ceremony was adjourned for refreshments.

Photo by Bruce Frisch.