A very special event repeated itself recently in Brockport nearly a half-century after it originally occurred, when the Brockport Volunteer Ambulance Corps was presented with an award it first received nearly 50 years ago.
During the Corps’ regular meeting June 26, members of the Brockport Chamber of Commerce re-presented the “Citizen of the Year” award to Corps president David Rice and all Corps members.
The award was originally presented to the Brockport Ambulance on March 27, 1965, in recognition of the efforts of the Brockport Emergency Relief Squad Ambulance Corps, which was founded in 1962 to provide needed emergency medical services to the greater Brockport area.
According to Corps members, the award, a large engraved silver bowl, had been displayed at the old firehall on Market St. until the building was torn down in 1970. The award was then displayed at Jim Gaylord’s Barber Shop, also on Market St., during construction of the new building. Jim, a charter member of the Corps, accepted the award while president. When he moved south, the award got packed with items from the shop and taken along.
Four decades later, Jim had passed away and his wife, Gail, uncovered the bowl while going through boxes. She posted her find on Facebook (“Remembering Brockport” page) asking if anyone could help her send it home. “The rest is history repeating itself, 49 years later,” Corps members say.
Past captain Christopher Martin offered to return the award to its proper home, and Gail Gaylord shipped it back to Brockport.
Tom Bartz, a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Brockport Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by Chamber vice-president Robin Waller, re-presented the award at the June 26 meeting.
“We are honored to accept this award and recognize the efforts of all members of the Corps and their dedication over the years to help our neighbors and friends,” said Corps president David Rice. “This award is a very important part of our history and we are proud to have it home once again.”
The award will be back on display and Corps members say it will serve as a reminder of the important volunteer work done by the BVA for the community both now and over the past 50 years.
Provided photo
