November 2012

This year will soon come to an end. Christmas is just around the corner.

MEMBER REPORT:

George Thornton, Arnold Haddock, Bobby Dewitt and Howard Salter have all been in the hospital recently but are all home and doing well.

Since our last newsletter four retirees have passed away.

Randy Fitts – November 21, 2012
Engineer Dale Walters – December 8, 2012
Captain Howard Beckham – December 10, 2012
Lt. Bruce Hedrick – December 12, 2012. Bruce died in a car accident on New Berlin Rd.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these brothers. May God bless them with peace.

Once again retiree Mike Mooney is in the newspaper. Mike has been fishing with good results even though weather forecasters are negative about conditions.

Captain Rob Sorensen is proud to announce that his sons. Chris and Robin, through their Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has given a total of $300,000.00 to local Fire and Police Departments for needed safety equipment.

During the annual luncheon we have had 21 new members join the association.

Retired Lt.Richard Miller had a party for his 80th birthday on December 8, 2012. He had asked that no one bring a present, however, Rick Ricketson gave him a 3 ½ ft. concrete Dalmatian. As it turned out the dog already belonged to Richard. It seems that a fireman’s sense of humor never goes away.

This is a picture of Ricky presenting Richard with his own statue..

NOTICE:

Every month there is someone who walks out of the monthly breakfast without paying their bill. PLEASE PAY YOUR BILL!

EVENTS:

The Red Knights again had a float in the Macclenny Christmas Parade. US 90 was closed from Lowder to the courthouse (2 miles). The number of people that attend this parade is astounding at this small town event.

The Red Knights also enjoyed a very nice Christmas party at Retired Captain Hugh
Chancey’s in Folkston. The meal is provided by Michael Jablonski, Executive Chef at Epping Forest. Michael is the husband of Yvette Jablonski, Secretary for the Red Knights.

Local 122 will hold its monthly meeting at 9:00 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012. Get there at 8:00 am for breakfast. Immediately following the business meeting the Local 122 Christmas Party will be held. All are invited.

The Jacksonville Police Fire Pension Fund held their annual Christmas Party on December 12, 2012.

On Thursday, December 27 there will be a meeting concerning pension reform to be held at Firefighter hall. All members should make an effort to attend. If you know an active duty firefighter with less than 5 years on the job please stress the importance of this reform and encourage them to attend this meeting.

AS OFFICERS OF THIS ASSOCIATION WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO WISH ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
 

DECEMBER 2012 MEMBER PROFILE: GARRY A. GRIFFIN

Retired Lieutenant Garry Griffin , 63 years of age retired in 2005 from Rescue 15 with 30 years of service.

Garry was one of six children born in Jacksonville on June 6, 1949 to Harold and Annie Mae Griffin. Garry has 4 sisters, Gwen, Jackie, Sandra and Gail. He also has a brother, David.

Garry graduated from Mathew Gilbert High School on Franklin Street.

After graduation Garry enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served 4 years. He went to boot camp in the Great Lakes.

Garry is married to Cynthia. He has 3 children. Sons, Sigmund (41yo), Adrian (35yo) and a daughter Danielle (31yo).

Garry was hired as a firefighter with the Jacksonville Fire Department on January 14, 1974. Garry’s first assignment was Ladder 13 with Lt. Fred Allen as his officer.

Garry worked at Ladder 20, Rescue 4, Rescue 6 and made Lt. while at Rescue 9.

Garry says that his most memorable fire was when a car “blew up” on Eve Drive. He was on Ladder 20 at the time and he has never forgotten the amount of damage that an explosion like that could cause.

Since retirement Garry has pursued his wish to help the elderly. Garry and his wife have opened and now run 2 assisted living facilities in Jacksonville. One of the facilities in named EJ’s Place Assisted living. When asked how they came up with this name Cynthia states that it is named for her mother, Evelyn Johnson.

The facility on the north has 6 senior citizens and the one on the Westside has 5 seniors living there. Garry and his wife are very involved with the care of all the seniors and have been doing this for the past 7 years.
 

	Garry and Cindy share the responsibility of 2 assisted living Facilities in Jacksonville.
	Garry and Cindy with one of the residents
	Garry calls this his “Ladder Man”.