MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y.-- The main room on the second floor of the Mohegan Lake Fire Department was a mixture of handshakes, pats on the backs, old jokes and old timers Tuesday night. The fire department held its annual Old Timers night, where it recognized members of the department who have been active volunteers for 25 years or more.
They are the foundation of the department, said Brian Wolert, Lake Mohegan Fire Chief and an old timer himself after 36 years of volunteering. They make us what we are, and they teach us how to do everything we do.
Wolert said there is a gap in the ages of volunteers who join at the present time, as there are many younger people and older people, but few middle-aged members.
So these people really are going to have to pass the torch straight to the younger kids and teach them everything they know, he said.
In between handshakes and hellos with members from the department, Wolert shook hands with his old fire chief, also an old timer, who Wolert said left him with not only knowledge, but an impression on what it means to be an active volunteer in the department.
They really make us what we are, Wolert said. You cant explain how much these guys have taught us, and the impression theyve left on us all as we all grow into old timers together."
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