History was made today. The Department was awarded the Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Trophy at the 124th annual Maryland State Firemen's Convention Parade. This is the first time in our 81 year history of being a department that we have won this award.

The Department was awarded the following for our efforts:

Best Appearing Junior or Cadet Company - 2nd Place
Junior Fire Chief Making Best Appearance - 2nd Place
Junior Miss Fire Prevention Making Best Appearance - Honorable Mention
Fire Prevention Entry Making Best Appearance - 2nd Place
Fire Service Color Guard Making Best Appearance - 2nd Place
Auxiliary In Uniform Coming The Longest Distance - 1st Place
Best Appearing Maryland Fire Auxiliary In Uniform - 1st Place
Antique Emergency Apparatus Making Best Appearance (25 Years or Older Not in Service) - 3rd Place Old Engine 1
Emergency Service Special Unit Making Best Appearance (Canteen, Forestry, Hazmat, Jeep, Gator, etc.) Honorbale Mention UTV-2
Marine Rescue Unit Making Best Appearance - 2nd Place Raft 22
Squad Truck Making Best Appearance - 1st Place RES2CUE
Brush Unit – Making Best Appearance - 2nd Place Brush 2
Tanker Making Best Appearance (1500 gallon capacity tank and over) - 1st Place Tanker 2
Fire Engines – 1250 GPM Making Best Appearance - Honorable Mention Engine 21
Fire Engines – 1250 GPM Making Best Appearance - 1st Place Engine 23
Best Appearing Fire Department Marching Unit (10 or more personnel) - 3rd Place

MARYLAND COMPANY MAKING THE BEST APPEARANCE - CHIEF A. MARVIN GIBBONS MEMORIAL AWARD

A little history on the award:

The award shall be presented to the company which, in the sole opinion of the parade judges, presents the best overall appearance considering such factors as: number of and composition of units, number of personnel in uniform, decorum, demeanor, and esprit de corps.

The Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award consists of four major components: the pedestal, the felt field, the granite base, and the speaking trumpet. In addition, the award also includes a support for the trumpet and a dust cover. Each of the major components represents a specific aspect of the life of A. Marvin Gibbons.

The pedestal forms the foundation of the A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award. Just as Marvin Gibbons was in life, this pedestal is robust, solid, and distinguished looking. The pedestal. Made of solid mahogany, is octagonal in shape and measures forty inches high and approximately twenty-five inches across. The pedestal rests on a one inch base plate. In the top surface of the pedestal is a circular felt field. This felt field is red, Marvin’s favorite color. The felt field measures approximately eighteen inches in diameter. Upon this surface rests the granite base.

The base of the Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award is made from Elberton dark blue-gray granite. The stone measures twelve and five-eights inches long, eight inches wide, and two inches high, has a smooth bottom, polished top, and rough sides with rounded corners. This granite resembles the gravestone of Chief A. Marvin Gibbons.

The Speaking Trumpet is an exact duplicate of the antique speaking trumpet presented to Chief Gibbons by the Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department upon his election to President of the MSFA. The Speaking Trumpet was cast in bronze from a mold made from the original trumpet. The bronze trumpet was then polished and chrome plated. Chief Gibbons instituted the use of chrome to accent equipment and apparatus in order to build pride within the Department. The red, white and blue braid and tassels are a ceremonial halyard representing the patriotism of Chief Gibbons.

The Department also received the following during the convention awards ceremony.
Fire Prevention was awarded 10th in the state for their hard work. They submitted entries for a year round project and Fire Prevention book.

The following individuals were nominated for the Marbury F. Gates Award for having over 50 years of service.
Harold Anderson - 51 Years of Service
James W. Burroughs - 60 Years of Service
John C. Guy, Sr. - 64 Years of Service
Joseph R. Guyther - 54 Years of Service
Andrew J. McWilliams - 54 Years of Service

The Department congratulates those who received awards.