Galena fire company wins big at Ocean City parade
By Cheryl Keffer
Kent County News July 7, 2005

GALENA – The “big trophy” is back in Kent County.
The Galena Volunteer Fire Company won the highest honor – the “Company Making the Best Appearance – Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award” – at last month’s State Firemen’s Parade in Ocean City, stealing the prize from the Crumpton fire company, which won it last year.
“It’s a friendly competition for us,” said Galena Fire Chief Chris Powell, Tuesday. “It was a lot of hard work, but it was fun.”
Galena went all out for the parade, entering more than 20 categories, with nearly 65 people participating in the June 22 event.
Mayor Harry Pisapia and fire company charter member Harvey Camp both attended, as well as a group of ladies auxiliary members, three queens, and a junior chief.
Along with all the people participants, Galena entered nine pieces of equipment, a fire prevention float, and a mascot.
“We had a Dalmatian mascot who walked the parade with us,” Powell said. “He was a big hit.”
The pup even won “Best Appearing Emergency Services Mascot.”
Galena also won awards for having: the company with the most uniformed emergency services personnel; the best comic entry (Galena Volunteer Fire Company MSFA Convention Rehab Unit); and the best appearing Junior Fire Chief (Alan Haley).
Other honors included:
•Second Place, Best Appearing Fire Department Marching Unit (10 or more personnel);
•Second Place, Best Appearing Maryland Ladies Auxiliary in Uniform;
•Second Place, Best Appearing Emergency Apparatus Over Twenty Years Old (1962 pumper);
•Third Place, Best Fire Prevention Entry;
•Third Place, Fire Service Color Guard Making the Best Appearance;
•Honorable Mention, Junior Fire Prevention – Alicia Pisapia;
•Honorable Mention, Little Miss Fire Prevention – Alyssa Kendall;
•Honorable Mention, Fire Engines – 1,500 GPM and Over Making the Best Appearance;
•Honorable Mention, Fire Engines – 1,250 GPM and Over Making the Best Appearance; and,
•Honorable Mention, Ambulance Making the Best Appearance.
Crumpton Volunteer Fire Company won for best appearing pumper-tanker; third place best appearing rescue pumper; third place fire engines – 1,250 GPM and over making the best appearance; fourth place best fire prevention entry; honorable mention ambulance making the best appearance; and, honorable mention junior fire prevention (Elizabeth Newsome).