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The Herreid Firefighters and Campbell County Ambulance Memorial was dedicated during a ceremony on Monday evening at the Memorial Site beside the Herreid Fire Department building. Lance Vander Vorst, Co-Chair of the Memorial Committee, delivered a few remarks during the ceremony.

The monument has the names of 298 current and former fire department members on one side and 63 former and current EMTs and EMSs on the other side. The firefighter statue at the memorial was given by Bonnie Schick in memory of her husband, James Schick.

The complete text of Vander Vorst’s speech is printed below.

“We are gathered here this evening for the Dedication of the Herreid Firefighters and Campbell County Ambulance Memorial. The monument itself is impressive, India black granite, polished to a mirror-like finish, with names, information and inspirational quotes etched onto its surface. But, in reality, it is just a big rock—a nice rock, but a rock nonetheless. The importance of the monument and memorial is what it symbolizes and stands for.

“First of all, this memorial stands as a tribute to the past. It is right and proper to honor those who saw the need for firefighting and lifesaving services in our community. Through their vision and hard work, the groundwork was laid for the fire department and later the ambulance squad. In the early days of Herreid, several devastating fires ravaged our Main Street. It was from these ashes that the Herreid Fire Department was born. These local firefighting pioneers set the standards of dedication and professionalism that we still strive for today. The EMT services were also born out of a pressing need. As doctors and full-time medical services moved out of our county, the EMTs stepped in to fill that void and provide the lifesaving services our county has come to rely on.

“The firefighters and EMTs who currently fill out our rosters are the present. These are the men and women who willingly give their time and effort, their sweat and blood, for the safety and betterment of our community. They have full-time jobs and families; they already volunteer their time to their churches, community organizations and other worthwhile causes. Yet, they know that somebody has to step up to the plate, and somebody has to answer that call. Whether it be a routine run, or a life-threatening situation, they will do their duty and will not shirk from their responsibilities. They are an indispensable part of the backbone of our community.

“Lastly, the memorial is about our future. The blank and open spaces on the monument will someday hold the names of our future heroes. The young people and the children of our community, as well as those yet unborn generations, will gaze upon the shiny black surface of the monument and they will know the cost and they will answer the call to serve. They will feel the pride in serving their community and following in the footsteps of their relatives and neighbors. If a community is to survive, the long line of service must remain unbroken.

“This memorial ties the past to the present and the future. This is no more evident than in the example set by the Huber family. Four generations of service to the fire department is a model to be followed. Andrew, Wilbert, Bob and Preston Huber all answered the call to served their community. There are many names on the memorial that span second and third generations. It is a bond that goes unbroken. Many of our sons and daughters will fulfill that destiny. The firefighter statue, which stands a vigilant watch over the memorial, was donated in memory of James Schick. He was proud to be a firefighter, so proud that when he took a job in Bismarck, one of his concerns was not being able to fulfill his commitment to his community as a firefighter. I am willing to bet that someday his sons and daughters will proudly serve. The firefighter statue is a constant guardian to the memory of the past and the hope of the future.

“In closing, I would like to thank everyone who donated their time, money and effort in the planning, constructing and financing of this memorial. A community is to be judged by how it honors its past, supports its present and prepares for the future.”