PLYMOUTH — Chief Neil Foley is pleased to share that the Plymouth Fire Department, together with the Plymouth Fire Relief Association, will be hosting a helmet homecoming ceremony tomorrow to honor retired Plymouth Firefighter Dale Melanson and in support of his battle against ALS.
WHEN:
Friday, June 23 from 2-3 p.m.
WHERE:
Plymouth Fire Department, 114 Sandwich St.
WHAT:
Firefighter Melanson dedicated 18 years of service to the Plymouth Fire Department before he was forced to retire in June 2022 after being diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia at the age of 57, which later developed into an ALS diagnosis. In October 2022, the Plymouth Fire Department initiated the “Pass the Helmet” project with the goal of passing 3 hand-painted fire helmets to a variety of fire stations across Massachusetts in support of Firefighter Melanson’s battle with ALS.
After visiting more than 75 cities and towns over the course of eight months, the helmets will be presented to Firefighter Melanson and his family during Friday’s ceremony.
The ceremony will begin with a brief procession of approximately 9 fire engines departing from Stephens Field on Union Street with the engines then returning to their respective stations. The final three engines in the procession will be parked at Station 1 to be part of the ceremony.
A presentation of the helmets will follow the procession with opening remarks made by Lieutenant Josh Prada.
During the ceremony, the first helmet will be presented to Plymouth Fire Station 2 with Captain Monty Gray and his crew receiving the helmet. The second helmet will be presented to Firefighter Melanson’s Plymouth Fire Station 3 crew with whom he worked alongside for many years. The helmet to Station 3 will be presented by Captain Mark Stoddart (Ret.) and Firefighter Eric Anthrop. The third helmet will be presented to Firefighter Melanson and his family by Lieutenant Walsh and his crew on Plymouth Fire E-7.
The ceremony will conclude with closing remarks from Lieutenant Prada.
About the Pass the Helmet Project:
On October 21, 2022, the first helmet, heading north, was first passed to Kingston Fire Department. A few days later, the second helmet, heading south, was passed to Bourne Fire Department.
The third helmet, the “special ops helmet,” was sent on a unique journey through the City of Boston, stopping at various firehouses, Gillette Stadium and riding in a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter in honor of Firefighter Melanson’s military service.
When the helmets arrived at each department, they contained Firefighter Melanson’s story with a task attached – sign and take a photo with the helmet, post the photo on Facebook, make a donation, and bring the helmet to their neighboring Department.
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