{"id":2626,"date":"2015-09-24T08:35:06","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T12:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=2626"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:13:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:13:42","slug":"fire-stations-famously-fly-flags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/fire-stations-famously-fly-flags\/","title":{"rendered":"Fire stations famously fly flags"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>
A modern Slackwood fire helment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than a century ago, the dedication of a firehouse in New Jersey was a major extravaganza, complete with \u2013 as a newspaper headlined \u2013 \u201cNew Fire House, New Fire Engine, New Flag and Big Time.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the first Saturday in August 1907, the citizens of Slackwood, N.J., gathered to celebrate the completion of the town\u2019s engine house. They also witnessed an American flag<\/a> being raised, the installation of a volunteer fire department, \u201cthe acceptance of a new chemical engine and a hot fire to try it on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"45-star<\/a>A key moment at the dedication was hoisting an American flag up a new flagpole<\/a>. \u201cWith bowed heads,\u201d The Trenton Evening Times reported, \u201call followed the Rev. Charles H. Elder in prayer.\u201d Next came \u201ca spirited flag drill,\u201d performed by participants decked out \u201cin patriotic regalia, each carrying a silk flag.\u201d The banner, which had 45 stars<\/a>, had been purchased with donations collected by the village\u2019s kids.<\/p>\n

When the drill concluded, a dozen little girls \u2013 none more than five years old \u2013 proudly carried \u201cthe starry flag\u201d into the center of the throng and passed it to one of the firemen. As he lifted it, and as Old Glory\u2019s stars and stripes opened in the breeze, two women sang \u201cAmerica\u201d and the National Anthem.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
An early 1920s fire truck. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Such events have happened all over America. In 1921, for example, the Wake Forest Fire Department was established in North Carolina. Things moved quickly for the department that first year: a hand-pulled reel was bought to bring hoses to fires; new fire equipment, including the chassis for a truck, was purchased; the local phone system was updated so that emergency calls could be processed more easily; and space was rented to shelter the truck.<\/p>\n

Today, one of the most striking aspects of the WFFD is its elaborate patch, which is also part of its firehouse flag<\/a>. As described on the department\u2019s website, the seal\u2019s Maltese cross \u201crepresents charity, loyalty, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe,\u00a0dexterity\u00a0of service, and\u00a0protection\u00a0of the weak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Wake<\/a>Also featured is the Star of Life, the \u201cbadge of medical service personnel\u201d that \u201crepresents the six-system functions of\u00a0emergency medical services: Detection, Reporting, Response, On Scene Care, Care in Transit, and Transfer to Definitive Care.\u201d<\/p>\n

The patch\u2019s center sports an image of Binkley Chapel on the campus of the South-Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It\u2019s included, the department explains, \u201cas an icon for the town and its residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fire<\/a>
Fire equipment in the South in 1910. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three special years are listed on the patch: \u201cthe organization of the Town of Wake Forest\u00a0Fire Department (1922), the organization of the Wake Forest Rural Fire Department (1955), and the merger of the Town and Rural Departments\u201d (1983).<\/p>\n

Flags and firefighters go together. Check it out the next time you pass a firehouse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than a century ago, the dedication of a firehouse in New Jersey was a major extravaganza, complete with \u2013 as a newspaper headlined \u2013 \u201cNew Fire House, New Fire Engine, New Flag and Big Time.\u201d On the first Saturday in August 1907, the citizens of Slackwood, N.J., gathered to celebrate the completion of the… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10,28,276,19,103],"class_list":["post-2626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-american-flag","tag-american-flags","tag-firemen","tag-patriotism","tag-star-spangled-banner"],"yoast_head":"\nFire stations famously fly flags<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The dedication of a firehouse in New Jersey was a major extravaganza, with \u201cNew Fire House, New 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