On Friday, the members of the Pageland Fire Department hosted a Veteran’s Day lunch to celebrate and show gratitude for the men and women of Pageland who have served in the military. The volunteer department provided food and fellowship for approximately 40 veterans and veteran spouses, in addition to several dozen other members of the community including law enforcement, EMS & utility workers.
The gathering was the first time the Pageland Fire Department has recently held such an event, and reinforces the Department’s vision to be a positive presence in the community – not just in fighting fire, but in bringing people in the town together.
A Post-celebration celebration
Attendees of the annual Veterans Day celebration at Moore’s Park were invited to the luncheon by Pageland Fire Department member and Pageland Rescue Squad Captain Garth Rivers. Following the ceremony on Pearl Street that most PFD officers attended to show support, the attending veterans and their families were promptly invited to the fire station to enjoy a complimentary meal and desert.
Good eatin’
Veterans and their families were treated to chicken bog, country ham-infused green beans, coleslaw and cake. Since lead cooks and long-time members Steve Long and Donnie Benton engineered 6 pots of a hearty chicken bog recipe, there were no worries that anyone would be left out or that the department would run out of food. The sheer volume of food meant that department members were imploring veterans to take a to-go plate (or two) home to enjoy later in the weekend.
Madison McManus, member (left) and her brother Jay Rivers, United States Marine and Pageland Fire Department Captain (right)One of our own
Several members of the Pageland Fire Department, including Benton who helped lead the cooking efforts, are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to recognizing and thanking veterans in the community of Pageland, the luncheon also served to reinforce how thankful The Department is for its members who have served.
The newest member of this group, Fire Department Captain Jay Rivers, was in attendance for Friday’s luncheon. Rivers, also a full-time professional at Florence Fire Department, recently finished training at the United States Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.
Thanking all veterans
The Department plans to host this lunch celebration again next year, and we’re hoping for an even better turnout as word continues to spread throughout the community each year! We’d like to thank not just those who attended, but also to all of the veterans in the community.