Firefighters convention elicits laughter, tears Houlton hosts parade, remembrance ceremony

HOULTON – Amid the cacophony of police sirens wailing, fire engines roaring to life and musicians’ impromptu notes at the 42nd annual Maine State Federation of Firefighters’ convention parade Saturday morning, members of the Ellsworth Fire Department remained focused on their mission.

Casandra Engstrom, the group’s volunteer angel, needed her wings properly straightened; firefighter Brad Ewing was readying to assume his position on the group’s float; and firefighters Jessica Ray and Karen Saunders were hastily prepping their uniforms and helping Engstrom with her costume.

There is a lot of last-minute work, but it’s all worth it, said Ellsworth firefighter Gary Saunders, nodding toward the float, which is a replica of the Maine Firefighters’ Memorial in Augusta.

The three-panel memorial honors those who have died in the line of duty. The center panel of the monument depicts firefighters in action, including one carrying an infant from a fire. The flanking panels display the federation seal and the Firefighter’s Prayer.

During the parade, Ewing sat in full turnout gear on the float on a bench facing the memorial, while Engstrom, the angel, knelt beside him.

“We were tossing around suggestions for a float a few years ago, and we came up with this idea,” said Saunders, who was one of more than a dozen Ellsworth firefighters who participated in the three-day convention. “We put the finishing touches on this just before [Sept. 11, 2001]. When we took this float out to its first parade, people were just burying their hands in their faces, it was so emotional.”

Laughter, tears, reverence and delight were emotions that meshed freely at Saturday’s parade, which was a highlight of the 42nd annual convention. The event is held in a different location of the state each year, and this was Houlton’s first time as host.

The gala, which also included a muster, a banquet and a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony, brought firefighters and their equipment from throughout the state. Fleets from as far away as Calais and York Beach joined fire departments from throughout Aroostook County to take part.

Sheriff’s departments from several counties also were represented in the parade, along with the Maine State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Saturday’s procession was so large that the start of the convoy nearly met the last entrants on the circular parade route before they had left the starting point.

Along the parade route, children squealed in delight at the miniature motorized firetrucks and pumped their arms up and down, signaling the firetruck drivers to sound their horns. Onlookers whistled at the sleek, newfangled ladder trucks and gaped in awe at such antiques as the Sangerville Fire Department’s 1899 hose cart and the demonstration given by Dexter firefighters of their functioning 1836 hand fire pumper.

Tears appeared in the eyes of some onlookers both as the Ellsworth float passed and as members of the Houlton Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary carried a boot throughout the parade route, gathering donations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Music was a central part of the procession, as the haunting sound of bagpipes intermingled with the melodious strains of concert bands during the event.

As the last entrant passed, one unidentified boy was heard expressing his appreciation for the parade. “That was cool,” he said. “I wonder if they’ll come around again.”