The Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 continued this month’s momentum in celebrating first responders as it held its annual Christmas gathering on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Held at the local lodge, club members once again offered praises and homestyle cooking toward the Plant City Police Department for lunch and Plant City Fire Rescue for dinner.
“That’s been our tradition for more than 30 years,” said Judy Wise, member of Elks Lodge #1727 and chairwoman for the Elks District Veterans’ Services. “It’s just our way of saying thank you for what they give to us.”
This comes as December has seen a steady outpouring of love and support to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day.
Since it opened on Dec. 2, the Plant City Chick-fil-A restaurant has surprised the Plant City Police Department, among other local entities, with free service, lasting a year.
And on Friday, Dec. 3, Chaplaincy Care Inc. – led by Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks, kicked off an event providing first responders with breakfast every first Friday of the month.
The evening service had a dense crowd of lodge members, firefighters and paramedics, making quite a social atmosphere. Retired servicemen were among those present and were asked to stand for recognition.
However, the spotlight put on several active crewmen brought a change to the traditional gathering.
This year the fire department chose the lodge as its grounds to promote four crewmen.
Plant City Fire Rescue Chief David Burnett called each member forward for the pinning ceremony- where a badge adorns their uniform.
Those promoted to the rank of captain were Bill Saunders and Dustin Hill.
Those promoted to the rank of paramedic were Gabriel Valiente and Devin Johnson.
“We often get comfortable and complacent in our position in the fire service,” said Burnett. “We choose not to take on any unnecessary risks. Today our newest promotees have chosen to take a different path. They’ve decided to step outside their comfort zone. In addition to their own destiny and well-being, they will now take on new responsibilities.”
Johnson has been with the fire department since 2018. In order to receive his rank as paramedic he had to go through an internship program.
Not only was he appreciative of the support from the Elks Lodge and his fellow crewman, but his family who was in attendance.
When he was hired by the department, he chose his father to pin his badge on, but this year chose his grandmother.
“I love the small department feel,” said the Plant City native. “I literally know everybody here. I know everybody’s family that’s here.”
Also, the fire department used the opportunity to award the 2021 Firefighter of the Year, Joseph Mitchell – who received a plaque.
Like Johnson, he too was hired in 2018.
While he was nominated, he was quick to take the credit off himself and attribute the comradery among his colleagues.
“I feel like across the department, everyone’s done a really good job this year,” said Mitchell.
That teamwork was evident that day as first responders were called for an emergency – the very reason their ceremonies were being held. Lunch was cut short for several police officers as they had to join firefighters in responding to a car crash.
The Elks Lodge names the employee of the year for the police department.
This year, instead of recognizing one individual, they honored the department’s entire communication staff for their hard work.
Like many others, commemorating first responders is something personal for Wise.
Several years ago, her husband was suffering from atrial fibrillation. A fire rescue crewman tended to him until he was transported to the hospital.
Wise believes that the up and coming generations will be inspired to take up the mantle stating, “there’s a lot of little kids in there right now that will be firemen and EMTs long after I’m gone because of what they’re seeing their fathers and their grandfathers do.”