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HANOVER TWP. — The Hanover Township Fire Department is set to host the 115th annual Six County Firemen’s Convention from Thursday through Saturday.
“This is the first time that we are holding the Six County Firemen’s Convention since June of 2002,” Hanover Fire Department First Lieutenant Chris Halecki said. “But that was before the consolidation of Hanover’s six separate fire companies that took place in 2011.”
This marks the fifth time that Hanover has hosted the convention. The first came in 1980.
“We’ve had dozens of meetings over the course of the year,” Halecki said. “We’ve also formed a small committee that has been working internally to handle all the workings of this year’s convention.”
The three-day event will feature fire departments from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Columbia, Montour, Schuylkill and Northumberland counties.
On Thursday, the annual Six County Delegates Dinner will be held at the Wyoming Valley Country Club in Hanover Township. The cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m. Dinner will begin at 6.
“We will be giving out 34 awards to many local heroes spanning Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Halecki said.
On Friday, the morning meeting session will be held at Hanover Township Fire Department headquarters at 9 a.m.
A memorial service is set for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church at 11:15 a.m. Lunch will be served at the department’s headquarters following the service.
The afternoon meeting session will begin at 1:30.
Meanwhile, the public is invited to “Mug Night” at the Hanover Area Fire District Social Hall from 5-9 p.m. Friday.
“Mug Night will consist of light food fare, refreshments, musical entertainment and a chance for the public to mingle with local firefighters from Hanover Township and the rest of the Six County Association,” Halecki said. “We want to bring back that good old-fashioned bazaar feel.”
Parade
On Saturday, a parade will step off at 2 p.m.
Departments from the Six County area and beyond will showcase their apparatus. The parade will also include privately owned antique fire apparatus, pipe and drum bands, marching bands and local groups that specialize in public safety and community service.
The parade will form in the Marion Terrace section of the township at Memorial Elementary School. It will follow Lee Park Avenue to Oxford Street, left onto Oxford to West End Road, left onto Lyndwood Avenue, right onto Fellows Avenue, and right onto First Street. The march will end at the Hanover Area Fire District Social Hall grounds.
Trophies for the parade will be awarded at 6 p.m.