This past Saturday, I had the great pleasure of participating in the Founders’ Days Parade. This was not my first parade as a member of the Fire Department. However, it will be my last.
On Saturday, Feb. 27, I will work my last shift for the Department after more than 29 years of service. As the parade began and we moved slowly east on Hillsboro Boulevard towards the beach, I took greater notice than ever before of the scenery, the people and the moment. Smiling faces young and old took in the spirit of the procession as I attempted to soak up all that I could. I remembered the many times, as a child myself, sitting on the sidewalk by the main fire station watching, waving and racing for the candy being thrown by people riding on the various floats. Also, I was reflective of the many emergencies along this corridor through the years. The Founders’ Days Parade has always been special, but Saturday I seemed to make more eye contact and connect with more people than ever before. I looked at every child I could, with the intention of somehow convincing him or her that someday s/he could view the parade from my perspective as a member of Deerfield Fire-Rescue. Perhaps someday, a young Firefighter will tell this older one that’s what their motivation was. Along the route, I saw longtime friends, former schoolmates and even people that, through the years, needed to call on me while on duty to help with an emergency. None of them knew that I wasn’t waving hello, I was waving goodbye!
This letter is to thank all of you for extending me the privilege and the honor of serving you. No longer will I be responding to your calls for assistance, but I will always be there in the spirit of those still answering the alarm and rendering aid. They are, after all, an extension of me, and that — I am very proud of!
Captain Tim Hanley
Tequesta, FL
Kudos to city workers
Dear Editor:
This is to express my admiration for the City of Deerfield Beach workers who so quickly, efficiently and cheerfully removed the debris left by the Founders’ Day Parade. Their professionalism and goodwill spoke well for the city of which I am proud to be a citizen.
