Last week many members of the association made the trip to Ocean City Maryland to attend the Maryland State Fireman’s Associations (MSFA) 130th Convention. The convention began on Sunday, June 19th at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center on Coastal Highway. The convention committee did an outstanding job providing training for all members to attend and the training did not disappoint. On Monday after the opening ceremonies the exhibit area opened, and all major manufactures were represented showing their latest equipment/products on the market.

On Wednesday, June 22nd the annual parade took place, as usual Southern Maryland was well represented. Congratulations to Mechanicsville VFD for taking home the Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Trophy, this is the highest honor a department can obtain at the parade and it signifies the Unit (Department) Making the Best Appearance. This trophy has only been on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay 5 times prior to 2022, and one of those times was by the Mechanicsville VFD in 2016.

Squad Truck Making 2nd Best Appearance - Mechanicsville R2
Aerial Truck Making 2nd Best Appearance - Dunkirk T5
Brush Unit 3rd Best Appearance - Mechanicsville B2
Tanker Making 2nd Best Appearance (1500-gallon capacity tank and over) - Mechanicsville TN2
Pumper Tanker Making Best Appearance (1500-gallon capacity tank and over) - Mechanicsville ET24
Rescue Pumper Making Best Appearance - Bay District Rescue 92
Fire Engines – 1500 GPM and Over Making Best Appearance (Honorable Mention) - Bay District
Fire Engines – 1500 GPM and Over Making Best Appearance (Honorable Mention) - 7th District VFD
Fire Engines – 1500 GPM and Over Making Best Appearance (Honorable Mention) - Prince Frederick E-27
Fire Engines – 1500 GPM and Over Making Best Appearance (Honorable Mention) - Mechanicsville
Company with Most Uniformed Emergency Service Personnel - Mechanicsville
Best Appearing Fire Department Marching Unit (10 or more personnel) - Mechanicsville
Company Coming 2nd Longest Distance - 7th District VFD
Maryland Company Making Best Appearance - Chief Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award – Mechanicsville VFD
Best Appearing Junior or Cadet Company - Mechanicsville VFD
Fire Prevention Entry Making Best Appearance – Governors Award - Mechanicsville VFD
Fire Service Color Guard Making Best Appearance - Mechanicsville Vol. FD
Auxiliary in Uniform Coming the Longest Distance Mechanicsville Vol. FD
Best Appearing Maryland Fire Auxiliary in Uniform Mechanicsville Vol. FD
Emergency Service Special Unit Making Best Appearance (Canteen, Forestry, Hazmat, Jeep, Gator, Etc.) Honorable Mention Mechanicsville Brush
Marine Rescue Unit Making 3rd Best Appearance - Mechanicsville VFD
Command Unit Making 2nd Best Appearance - Mechanicsville VFD
Command Unit Making Best Appearance - Bay District VFD
Antique Emergency Apparatus Making Best Appearance (25 Years) FD Owned Honorable Mention - Mechanicsville 1950 Ford American

Congratulations to the new MSFA elected the new officers for 2022-2023, they are as follows.

MSFA Officers:
President Ben Kurtz
1st Vice President Eric Smothers
2nd Vice President W. Newton “Skip” Carey Jr.

We also congratulate the 2022 LAMSFA Officers:
President Malea Daughton
Senior Vice President Jean Main
Junior Vice President Shari Steffen