On a beautiful end-of-summer day, the Grahamsville Fire Department celebrated their 75th anniversary by hosting the 92nd Annual Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Parade.

Hundreds of spectators lined Grahamsville’s Route 42 and Main Street, as over 40 fire departments, auxiliaries, ambulance corps and marching bands made their way to the town’s fairgrounds. The organizations were from both in and out of the county, and were accompanied by contingents from the New York State Police, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and the Town of Fallsburg Police.

Shiny tankers, pumpers, rescue trucks and first response vehicles accompanied by men and women in neat uniforms competed as they marched for annual prizes awarded in categories such as Best Appearing Large Company, Best Appearing Auxiliary, Best Appearing Color Guard, Best Appearing Pumper (20 years or older), etc.

Dan Schweikart from the Inter-county Volunteer Judges Association explained some of the criteria: “We look to check the neatness of the uniforms, if they’re in lines, if they’re walking properly, not waving or talking …” Each organization starts at 100 and get points taken off for each infraction. No county resident can be a judge at his / her own county’s parade.

Awards were given out at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds at the end of the day. The Firefighters of the Year Award was presented to Anthony Freeman, Brendon Cunningham and Kristopher John Gwiozdowski of the White Lake Fire Company, which will be the host for the 2022 parade.

Award winners

SCVFA Firefighters of the year — White Lake - Anthony Freeman, Brendon Cunningham, Kristopher John Gwiozdowski

Best Appearing Large Regulation Company – White Lake Best

Appearing Small Dress Company (15 and under) – 1st place – Kauneonga Lake

Best Appearing Color Guard – White Lake Rescue Pumper – 1st place – Neversink

Best Appearing Pumper (20 years or older) – 1st place – Kauneonga Lake

Ladies Auxiliary – 2nd place – Neversink