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Photo by Travis Pratt
From left, Marine Sgt. William Wolbert, Marine Sgt. William Burwell, Career Firefighters
Association of Frederick County President John Neary, Frederick Police Officer First Class Jason Essel, Frederick County Fire and Rescue emergency medical technician Ryan Conrad, and Frederick County Fire and Rescue assistant chief Doug Brown take part Tuesday in a news conference at Spring Ridge Fire Station in Frederick. |
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Fire and rescue officials help people every day, from car crashes, burning buildings or illness.They are also giving U.S. Marines a helping hand this holiday season. The Career Firefighters Association of Frederick County is partnering with the Marines' 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Company B, based in Frederick , to help with its annual Toys for Tots drive. One hundred Marines in the battalion are deployed to Afghanistan, leaving only 10 behind for a toy drive in Frederick and Montgomery counties, Sgt. William Wolbert said. When talking with Frederick Police Department officers, who help with the event, they suggested the fire companies. So Wolbert called them. "Thirty seconds later, they said they would be happy to help out," he said. John Neary, president of the career firefighters union, said they wanted to support the Marines. The partnership was announced during a news conference Tuesday morning at the Spring Ridge Fire Station. Twenty-one of the county's 31 companies and stations will have drop-off boxes at their facilities. The final day for donations will be Dec. 18. The toy drive will also be at the same time as the union's annual canned food drive. Donated food will be given to local food banks just before Christmas, Neary said. Doug Brown, operations bureau chief at the county Division of Fire and Rescue Services, thanked the Frederick County Commissioners for allowing career personnel to participate in the drive. He also thanked the Marines for their service to the country. He was impressed the battalion was still doing the toy drive with so few members. "It speaks volumes about the organization," Brown said. Toys will be collected and housed at EZ Storage on Grove Boulevard in Frederick before being given out in time for Christmas. "They were very gracious in donating as much space as needed," said Lenne Stolberg, a career firefighter who is heading up the drive by the union.
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