Life Members of the Salem Rescue Squad were celebrated for their years of contributions on May 30 barbecue lunch at the Salem Rescue Squad Hall in Salem.
Current Captain Tim Gillinger and Chief Gene Bourne recalled highlights of the Rescue Squad and current accomplishments.
“The Squad currently has 27 members, 12 of them active members, four probationary members and six junior members,” Gillinger said. “Change is necessary,” he explained. “In the past year we have added the associate membership for college students and others who may not be here all year or want flexible volunteer opportunities.”
“We believe this will help retain long-term memberships.”
Life members earn that designation after 15 years. There are 34 living Life Members, with three or four living out of state.
Life Members and the order in which they joined are Randy Smith – who joined in 1965 – Kenny Reynolds, Rob Logan, Harold Weikle, Bill Spreaker, Joe Cunnningham, Jay Bain, Carey Harveycutter, Tim Cannaday, Ken McCauley, Richie Bolton, Eddie Hite, Mike Moore, Mel Ayers, Scott Sheppard, Ken Cook, Darlene Gee, Tony Rickman, John Beach, Jane Lindsay, Paul Hickerson, Fred Wilson Sr., Rick Hardy, Mike Anderson, Betty Powell, Fred Wilson Jr., Kevin Long, Jack McDaniel, Janet Doss, Mike Gosnell, Melissa Gray, Glen Gray, Al Scalera and Gene Bourne.
Gillinger pointed out the squad has obtained a new chief’s vehicle and a new outfitted golf cart to use at athletic events, the Salem Fair and other activities that are crowded, making it difficult for full-size ambulances to maneuver.
“I am thankful for past and present members, particularly life members,” said the captain, who joined the Salem Rescue Squad three years ago. “We will continue to move forward.”
Chief Bourne, who began volunteering with the squad when he was 40 in 2011, noted the squad’s biggest personnel need is more volunteers between the ages of 26 and 45. Currently there are none in that age span, he said.
“People aren’t interested in volunteering like this any more,” added Bourne.
Several of the squad’s vehicles are 15 or more years old, such as Truck No. 154 that is 20 years old, Bourne said. The squad is in the process of talks with a firm in Greenville, Tenn., to remodel one of the Salem squad’s ambulances, which would save the squad a substantial amount over buying a new one, the chief said.
“We have 2,000 years of experience in the people sitting here,” he added.
Among Life Members at the gathering was Ken Cook, who joined in 1985. “At that time, people would join our squad to get experience before joining the fire department,” he said.
Life Member Jane Lindsay, who joined in 1989, said she did so “because when I was at Virginia Tech I saw someone fall off a building. I wanted to do something to help.” She continues volunteering for the squad because “it is an addiction,” she joked.
Currently the squad averages one rescue call a night, and 10-15 calls or week, members said.
The Salem Rescue Squad was formed in 1932 and is the oldest in the United States as well as being the oldest active Rescue Squad in the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke’s rescue squad no longer answers 911 calls, Bourne said.
