FLAME November 2010
How do you thank someone who has given the past 18 years to public service? Every morning for the life of the new firehouse you could see the Guthries walking to take care of mundane, but necessary tasks: shoveling snow, cleaning the firehouse, checking the engines, buying supplies for the kitchen, flea markets and auctions.
Since moving to Big Elk in the early nineties, Chief Guthrie and his partner, wife Gerri Mae, have given their love to the VFD. Chief Guthrie shepherded the acquisition of apparatus, equipment, gear, supplies, and training, effectively raising money every year to fund the costs associated with running a fire department on donations and grants. Gerri Mae has spent countless hours making her famous plastic bottle skeletons, Harvey Wallbanger cakes, Christmas stockings for the kids (young and old), keeping scrapbooks of photographs, remembering birthdays at meetings with homemade cookies and brownies. All these details were done as a labor of love for the community.
Jerolyn Holland recently wrote: “The Fire Station was built by the community but as one person recently put it, ‘Jerry Guthrie is the soul of the Fire Department.’ The Guthries have truly given of themselves, their efforts, their time, their passions for our Fire Department and our community.” Master Fundraisers - The Guthries prepare in minute detail for the VFD fundraisers, buying items throughout the year, making lists and securing supplies, without reimbursement, donating their own talents, (e.g., handmade lamps, birdhouses), and making countless trips to collect donated items. This 5-bay firehouse - paid in full - was accomplished during the steadfast watch of Chief Guthrie. Jerry Guthrie will always be revered as Honorary Fire Chief. We are grateful for and recognize the magnitude of his service and the constancy of his wife’s supportive role.
www.bigelkbugle.com
Return to Guthrie Station page
Since moving to Big Elk in the early nineties, Chief Guthrie and his partner, wife Gerri Mae, have given their love to the VFD. Chief Guthrie shepherded the acquisition of apparatus, equipment, gear, supplies, and training, effectively raising money every year to fund the costs associated with running a fire department on donations and grants. Gerri Mae has spent countless hours making her famous plastic bottle skeletons, Harvey Wallbanger cakes, Christmas stockings for the kids (young and old), keeping scrapbooks of photographs, remembering birthdays at meetings with homemade cookies and brownies. All these details were done as a labor of love for the community.
Jerolyn Holland recently wrote: “The Fire Station was built by the community but as one person recently put it, ‘Jerry Guthrie is the soul of the Fire Department.’ The Guthries have truly given of themselves, their efforts, their time, their passions for our Fire Department and our community.” Master Fundraisers - The Guthries prepare in minute detail for the VFD fundraisers, buying items throughout the year, making lists and securing supplies, without reimbursement, donating their own talents, (e.g., handmade lamps, birdhouses), and making countless trips to collect donated items. This 5-bay firehouse - paid in full - was accomplished during the steadfast watch of Chief Guthrie. Jerry Guthrie will always be revered as Honorary Fire Chief. We are grateful for and recognize the magnitude of his service and the constancy of his wife’s supportive role.
www.bigelkbugle.com
Return to Guthrie Station page