Shoemakersville Fire Company hosts the Lights and Sirens Parade, Housing, Block Party and 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and seeks the community’s help.
“We are hoping to create an event where people from all over our region can come and enjoy the parade and block party but also remember the 15th year anniversary of 9/11,” said Shoemakersville Fire Company Lieutenant Tim Seyfert, Parade Chairman.
Seyfert said last year the fire company hosted a Lights and Sirens Parade, Housing and Block party but this year is different.
“Last year we housed four of our trucks and this year we are housing our antique 1926 American LaFrance Engine and we are holding a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony consisting of special guest speakers, a bag piper, a bugle player playing taps, photos and items from that day and more. We have had parades other years however we are trying to add to it and possibly make it an annual event,” said Seyfert.
Planning has already begun for the Sept. 10 event.
Starting at 4 p.m. with a parade, the route starts at Main Street and Zweizig Road, Main Street to Luisa Court, Luisa Court to Main Street, Main Street to Perry Road, Perry Road to Hall Road, Hall Road to Esther Lane, Esther Lane to Waxwood Road, Waxwood Road to Clarence Avenue, Clarence Avenue to Hall Road, Hall Road to Main Street, Main Street to Church Avenue, Church Avenue to Franklin Street, Franklin Street to Noble Avenue, Noble Avenue to Reber Street, Reber Street to 9th Street, 9th Street to Chestnut Street, Chestnut street to 4th street, 4th street to Franklin Street.
After the parade the fire company will be housing its antique engine and then host the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. The day concludes with a block party on the grounds of the fire house. The MedEvac helicopter will be landing around 7:30 p.m.
The community can help in multiple ways. The community can donate baked goods for the day of the event and the fire company will sell it as a fund raiser. They are also accepting monetary donations towards different things at the event such as the band fee, T shirts that need to be ordered and more.
What all goes into organizing the event?
“This event takes about a year to plan. We have a committee that meets every other Sunday and every member is assigned separate tasks. The event requires a multitude of tasks from booking the band, to getting donations, to booking the special guests, ordering and designing the T shirts, reserving rental items, getting permits, planning the layout of the block party, planning the parade route and more,” he said.
The committee consists of six members of the fire company however many more volunteers help get ready for the event.
“We will have many weekends where we get our grounds ready and prepare and it requires a lot of preparation the week before from running around for supplies and picking up the rental equipment, to setting up all the stands, hanging no parking signs, etc.,” he said. “We also offering ads in our parade book. All money raised for this will go directly to the fire company and also used to but equipment.”
The ads range from patron list where and individual can put their names in or their families name in for a few dollars and business can also put ads in for additional fees. Contact parade chairman for more information at 484-797-8396.
“This event is also a huge fundraiser for the fire company. All money raised will go towards buying new life saving equipment for the fire company,” said Seyfert.
For more information can be found at www.Shoeyfire.com.