Thursday May, 30 2024

Nature: Graduation Ceremonies – Howard T. Ennis School

Location: Patriots Way, Millsboro, DE 19966

The Board of Directors, Officers, and Members of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company would like to offer these comments to recognize a graduating student celebrating his school graduation in 2024 while he has pursued his civic duty affiliations within the volunteer fire service.

These congratulatory comments come at a time when we return to celebrating these significant milestones at school commencement services in auditoriums, stadiums, or gymnasiums.

The volunteers in the fire services, include many age groups, and have transitioned into systematic personalities that offers insight forged into standard operating guidelines that include simple acts of showing up at every emergency incident and doing what is needed in order that the task(s) is completed, donning additional personal protective gear with utilizing universal precautions.

It has been said that these systematic personalities include some of the basic cornerstones that will teach our graduates to prosper and excel in future endeavors.  The cornerstones are:  duty, commitment, compassion, and honor.

It is certain and extremely clear that as volunteers, we are instilled with a sense of duty and commitment; however, we must remain compassionate in order to address our chosen civic objectives because everyone that we encounter may be scared during these times of uncertainty, scared because of the unfortunate circumstances that they are encountering during this emergency situation, in some cases alone, and without interpersonal interaction with loved ones, family, and/or friends.  Therefore, we tend to be their only interaction with someone outside of their respective residential location.  So simple acts of kindness, consideration for the elderly, can offer comfort to someone during their time of need.

As a volunteer emergency first responder, we must remain committed, focused and strong in order to accomplish the designated objective of the mission or assignment while keeping your community safe and remembering the aforementioned cornerstones.

Therefore, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company acknowledges and congratulates all graduating seniors in the Class of 2024!  Thank you for your volunteerism because it has taught you to be adaptable -- to exercise compassion, patience, and quick thinking under pressure – be committed, be resilient, and most of all have goals and dreams because you can make a difference!

The Class of 2024 Graduating Senior from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company is:

Damian Groff – Howard T. Ennis School

Congratulations and best wishes, thank you for your volunteerism and community service within the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company.