I don't know about you but Christmas means love for one another and that's what was shown this past week at one of our old time life members. Pete Kropp has been a little under the weather for several months and had been in the nursing home. In order for him to come home for the holidays it was determined there would have to be a ramp built on the front of his house.

Well that's all our members needed to hear and plans were started to make it happen. Engineer Pat Stanley took the bull by the horns and laid out a plan and figured out how much material we would need. Then it was time to line up some help to do the job. Along with our members and the motorcycle club that Pete belongs to the days were lined up to begin construction.

Now Pat has some experience building and the rest had experience picking up boards and mixing cement for the posts that needed to be set so let the job begin.

Now for you that don't know there is a special bond that is built between firemen and it gave all the guys a good feeling to help one of our own who had helped so many of us over the years. It would be hard to show just all that Pete has done for the department over his years of service. For you to young to remember he alone built the first air trailer in the county and if you want to see the results of the job check our old pictures. He is also an expert metal person who given a piece of metal he could build anything we needed.

Now it was our turn and it was an honor to help him and his wife Gail out during this difficult time. Gail is also one of our most active associates with the department.

Now after a week of work the job was done and I went over to inspect it and was very impressed with the final job. It will serve Pete and Gail for years to come and knowing that he is home for the holidays is just another reason for the guys to feel good.

I talked to Pete for awhile and he wanted to make sure that all of you that were there and even the members who were there in spirit only thanks so much for what you did.