The Story of two Helmets. B. A. Clark November 9, 2018
Two old leather fire helmets, from the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, came into my position when an old house was cleaned out. The Kentland VFD is where my fire service career began in 1970. I did not know what to do with the artifacts; I couldn’t sell them that would not be honorable. They just hung on the wall in my study.
At the 2018 Executive Fire Officer Graduate Symposium in Emmitsburg MD, the Friday not social event was held at the Ott House. Food, beverage, and camaraderie are plentiful; along with a silent auction to raise money for the EFO Section of the IAFC. The item that made the most money was a special commemorative Executive Fire Officer helmet. Now I knew what to do with my two helmets.
I donate a portion of the royalties from my book “I Can’t Save You, But I’ll Die Trying. The American Fire Culture.” to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and the National Fire Heritage Center, but it is never enough. My selection of these two organizations is personal. I had the honor to be the project officer that lead the original government study, on the feasibly and need for creating an archive for preserving our documented fire service history, that created the NFHC. The first phone call I made after being diagnosed with prostate cancer was to the FCSN 800 number.
I asked Billy Scearce, Jr. Fire Captain Danville, VA, EFO Graduate, and Custom Helmet Artist to make two helmets to raise money for FCSN the NFHS, incorporating my book cover and the organization loges into the art. When I what to pay Billy he decide to split the cost with me.
As an added attraction President Ron Colman NFHC signed their helmet and President Bryan Frieders FCSN signed their helmet, it was my honor to sign each.
All involved in this project hope it raises money for these two important and valuable American Fire Culture organizations.
