Stories of Service

Sean McClure was a father, a friend and a special forces soldier. Most importantly he was a role model, a hero and a brother. “I wear his bracelet. It says ‘A Brother Above All Brothers’ and I happen to have six brothers and he ranks top of all. If you ask my son, to this […]

“My last shift will be bittersweet,” said Jon Rigolo, who spent 44-years serving his community with the fire service. He has learned some valuable lessons which he’s passed on to the next generation of firefighters but he is now looking forward to retirement. “March 27th is going to be my last shift at the firehouse.

In 1975, Tom Glenn was on the last helicopter out of Saigon. His evacuation was part of Operation Frequent Wind in which 7,000 Americans and refugees were evacuated over 18 hours before the North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam took over the city. He had remained late into the operation while he continued to send

In challenging circumstances, always do the right thing. Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do, but always do the right thing,” said Ralph Galati who spent over a year as a POW after his jet was shot down and he was captured by the North Vietnam military. Today, he works to remember

Greg Masi spent 40 years serving his community and his fellow hometown heroes in the city of Philadelphia. It was the realization of a childhood dream to become a public servant. “I remember as a young boy chasing fire trucks. When I would see the police cars in the neighborhood, I’d want to know what

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Veterans of World War II proudly served throughout Europe and the Pacific to protect the country they love. They captured territory, liberated concentration camps and risked their own lives in service and protection of the United States leaving a legacy of honor and service. “I was proud to

“It was going to be Abe’s last mission and it turned into an ambush,” said Constance Howard. Her son, Lance Cpl. Abram Howard, was a US Marine who proudly followed in the footsteps of many of his family members when he joined the Marine Corps. Each year on the anniversary of his death, Constance spends

After 35-years of responding to 911 calls, Gilbert Monroe has a new found passion within the fire service. In his role with Albemarle County Fire Rescue’s Community Risk & Resilience department he is working within his community to try to prevent those calls. “I absolutely love the position I’m in right now. It is one

“Almost like a kid some days, if he knew it was a ropes day or he knew it was a water day he would get super excited about that. He enjoyed keeping those skills sharp,” said Celeste Flynn about her husband Nate who passed away while fighting a structure fire. His fire department has made

Laudis Turney spent three years proudly serving in the Pacific during World War II and returned home to serve his community. Today, at 100-years-old, he is the oldest living member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department having served 75-years with the LVFD. “It’s very important. Volunteer fire service is based on that type of service,