About 90 people attended the third annual Redstone Fire and Emergency Services banquet and reunion Sept. 30
at The Summit.
The Fire Department members, retirees and their families posed for group photos and recognized this year’s retirees: Assistant Chief Sam Ivy, Driver/firefighter Terry Asherbranner and Inspector Jerry Leverett.
“It’s been great,” Ivy, 54, said of his 31 years of service which included 24 as a civilian and seven in the active Navy and the Air National Guard. “But I’ve had challenges, I’ve had obstacles to climb. But the good outweighed the bad.
“I’ve really enjoyed the guys. Meeting people. Making a difference in their lives.”
Ivy, who arrived in 2005, is originally from Macon, Mississippi. He and his family reside in Meridianville.
Asherbranner, 57, retired with 38 years of service. The Hartselle native and his family reside in Athens.
“It’s a hard life to choose and it costs a lot – you know, giving up family time,” Asherbranner said. “It’s been great. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t great.”
Garrison Commander Col. Brian Cozine and Command Sgt. Maj. Dylan Lemasters thanked the attendees for being there and for what they do.
“It’s really a great honor for us to be here for you,” Cozine said.
“I want to thank you for your service,” Lemasters said.
Among the attendees was Troy Vest, who served as the Redstone fire chief from 2001-10 and retired in December 2010. Vest, 70, was born in Double Springs, raised in Birmingham and resides in Cullman.
“It’s great,” Vest said of the annual reunion. “Getting to see all the people and the new guys coming in that are really firefighters and all the progress that’s been made in this department.”
Battalion Chief Bill Cline and retired firefighter Terry Hamm organized the event; and Cline served as the master of ceremonies.
“It went really well, good turnout,” Cline said. “It was fantastic to have generations of firefighters together all in one room.”
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