August 7 – “An Honor Guard Event Success”

We spent a few hours yesterday at the fund raising event for the Galveston Fire Department Honor Guard.  It seemed to be really well-attended, and Fire Fighter David Cangelosi did an amazing job spearheading the event.  Lighthouse Charities did the cooking, and as usual their barbecue beef and sausage with potato salad and beans on the side was as tasty as ever.  Galveston Island Brewery hosted the event in their parking lot.  They had a full playground for the kids and a live band provided entertainment for the afternoon. 

Several tables were filled with donated raffle items as well as silent auction artwork and other very nice opportunities.  There was even an AR-15 rifle being raffled as well.  Fire department red T-shirts designed especially for the occasion were for sale.  There were so many cars that several fire fighters had to be assigned strictly to parking detail.  Several of the rookies stepped up in their role as ticket salesmen.  And honor guard members in those signature red shirts mingled throughout the crowd, welcoming folks and answering questions.

In the short time Chris and I were there we saw not only some of our local fire department personalities (Like Trish Anderson and the crew of Ladder One and several of our retired fire fighters and quite a few off-duty fire fighters and their families), but also some fire-fighting “dignitaries.”  I met Chief Hoff, the fire chief of the Fort Bend department.  Of course Chief Anderson from Santa Fe was there.  Retired Chief Jeff Smith made his presence known before he had to leave for his new assignment – walking around Minute Maid Park during Astros games in case anyone gets hurt.  He is the guy who first asked me to be chaplain.  An honor guard representative from the Dallas Fire Department was also there.  He and some of his buddies drove down because they met our honor guard leaders at a training seminar and became friends.  Of course there were many more throughout the day. 

Thank you so much to the citizens who supported the event with their attendance and with their dollars.  I haven’t heard yet how much was raised, but whatever the final amount, the honor guard team is certainly grateful for it.  Proceeds will allow them to purchase their distinctive uniform paraphernalia, participate in future training events, travel to stand watch and participate in funerals, and present colors at events all around the area.  They are absolutely a team to be proud of, for the department as well as for Galveston as a community.  I know I am proud of them. 

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 says, “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers.”

Father, thank you for the extra commitment, time and effort put in by the honor guard team.  Honor their efforts and give them the energy and stamina they need.  Amen.