The Fire Company’s Turkey Dinner was held on November 18, 2020, at the fire hall. This annual dinner is a time when the Fire Company reviews the activities of the year, gives out awards, and brings the community together in a social event.
A highlight of the Turkey Dinner was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award given to Dan S. Fisher, who has been a lifelong Bird-in-Hand resident and a part of the Fire Company for 57 years. It has been estimated that Dan has held more different positions in the Fire Company than anyone else and is still serving as a trustee.
Ken Kauffman, former president and chief who had closely worked with Dan over the years, was the moderator for this part of the program. He commented, “Dan is a true servant leader. He would patiently mentor a new volunteer, involving himself in the training and encouraging the new recruit up the ladder of success while Dan stayed on the ground as a means of support. This firefighting analogy is what fire service is all about – serving the needs of our community without thought of personal gain.”
As a surprise to Dan, his wife Fannie and his children and grandchildren were on hand to watch the presentation. A fun video included scenes from the past and a special song just for Dan with the lyrics written by President Tim Hoerner and sung by Daniel Stargel, a local actor. The video began with the words, “Dan S. Fisher. We recognize his half century of devoted service, humble giving, and quiet achievement,” and brought back many memories of his dedicated service.
The Lifetime Achievement Award features the golden axe, which is a symbol of longevity in the Fire Company. This award goes to those who stay involved, attend meetings, and remain voting members for decades. Dan Fisher has done that along with being a unifying presence in the Fire Company. He works to pull people together and serves as an informal mediator. This was an evening to show gratitude to him.
Because of the pandemic, there were regular attendees who were missing this year, but the evening was still a time for firefighters and local residents to remember the important events of the past 12 months. With the help of staff members from Amy Wissing’s Lancaster Design & Consulting company, a video of the major happenings of this unparalleled year was shown. Here are some lines from the introduction:
It’s been an interesting year…We arrive first because we have
made a commitment to step up and care for our community…
This year, stepping up often meant stepping into the unknown…We’ve stepped up to serve our community
in ways we never could have imagined.
The video referenced the major fires, a water rescue, take-out-only chicken barbecues, canceled auction and half marathon, and a search effort. At the end, the firefighters resolved to face the new year with “purpose, perseverance, vision, and faith.”