Float to salute firefighters in 1988 Rose Parade?
Dispatches
In an effort to call civilian attention to the hazards and demands of the firefighting profession, a coordinating committee comprised of fire service personnel nationwide was formed to create a Firefighters’ Float for the 1988 Tournament of Roses Parade. From its rather modest beginnings in 1890, last year’s Tournament of Roses Parade attracted more than 126-million viewers.
R. J. Josenhans, an engineer with the Los Angeles City, CA, Fire Department and a member of the Fire Float Coordinating Executive Committee, said that the envisioned float will show the fire service profession past, present, and future, a beautiful and fitting tribute to the world’s bravest.
To run the float, however, the committee is attempting to raise $150,000 by March 1, 1987, and is asking for donations from fire departments throughout the United States. Fourteen firefighters from the 14 departments that raise the most money will be selected to ride on the float. These 14 departments will fall into one of seven groups (proportionate to the size city or town they represent). As a result, a small village that raises $1,000 has just as much of a chance getting a firefighter on the float as a big city department does. There will also be limited guest seating available for family and friends, as well as tickets for the 1988 Rose Bowl Game.
According to Ken Vrana, executive chairman of the committee, because of the fast approaching funding deadline, all departments that would like to participate must contact the committee and begin raising funds immediately. It’s also important for departments to send whatever they raise to the Fire Float Fund Trust Account as the donations are being raised and not wait until the last minute, according to the executive committee.
In addition to Messrs. Josenhans and Vrana, members of the committee’s executive board are: Battalion Chief Gordon Pearson, Los Angeles County, CA, Fire Department; Captain Dean Lange, Los Angeles City Fire Department; and Captain Chris Gray, Passadena, CA, Fire Department.
Regional directors are: Chief John Reardon, New Haven, CT, Fire Department; Engineer William A. Frankenbach, Southampton, NY, Fire Department; Training Coordinator Paul Adkins, Volusia County Fire Service, Deland, FL; Deputy Fire Commissioner William F. Foley, Chicago, IL, Fire Department; Deputy Chief’s Aide John Ellis, Seattle, WA, Fire Department; and George Goldbach, lead instructor of fire service programs with the Redrock Community College, Golden, CO.
Departments that are interested in participating in the Firefighters’ Float should contact the Fire Float Coordinating Executive Committee, 14612 Saticoy Street, Suite 4, Van Nuys, CA 91405, or their regional director.
Donations for the float fund should go to Fire Float Fund Trust Account, Pasadena First National Bank, 505 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101.
