Franklin County Honors Emergency Personnel Tonight

On this historic day when all of the country is remembering the tragic events of 9/11/2001, a group in Franklin County is preparing to honor tonight those who put their lives on the line everyday in our community.

A special dinner for first responders, emergency responders, law enforcement and fire fighters is taking place this evening at the Rocky Ford Recreation Center in Carnesville.

Sponsored by the Franklin County Rotary and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, tonight’s dinner is really the brainchild of Rotary member Dr. Michael Callahan,

Dr. Callahan said he got the idea for the dinner after seeing a similar event in another county.

“This is a vision that I saw happen in another county years ago,” he said. “I was impressed by it and I thought that would be so good for us.”

Callahan said he put the idea on the back burner, but it resurfaced after he witnesses a traffic accident.

“We called 911 and they came out there,” he said. “When they arrived, those guys were like knights in shining armor. They were on the ball. They responded and took great care of everyone. So, I was talking to some people and said, ‘Hey, these guys deal with drug addicts, crazies, burning houses, accidents, all this stuff and they’re not even recognized.’ So, the purpose of this dinner is to recognize our local heroes in our community.”

A native of Franklin County, Callahan said he brought the idea to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas and then to the Rotary and Chamber, who all agreed to help get the dinner off the ground.

Tonight, some 300 emergency, police, and fire fighters and their spouses will be treated to a dinner that they can either eat there or take home.

Callahan said those who cannot make it to the dinner tonight will have their dinners delivered to them.  Callahan said they hope to make this an annual event.

“I would like to see it grow into that. It’s a wonderful thing to bring them all together. Tonight, it’s going to be a pick up service,” Callahan said.

Donations however are still needed to help pay for dinner for some 600 people.

Anyone wishing to donate to help pay for tonight’s dinner can drop off their checks at the Franklin County Chamber office in Carnesville or Dr. Callahan’s office on Jones St. in Lavonia.