Volunteer firemen and first responders were honored recently at an appreciation banquet held at Embers Restaurant and sponsored by American Banking Company. Colquitt County Volunteer Firefighter Association President Billy Glass welcomed the volunteers and their families to a night of fellowship with other locals whose motto is “Volunteers because we care.”

Special guests in attendance at the banquet were Ron Marchant and Jeff Taylor, American Banking Company representatives; Max Hancock, chairman of Colquitt County Board of Commissioners; Billy Mock, Colquitt County administrator; local Southwest Georgia Bank representatives; Aaron Vick III, Ernest Tucker and Helen Sewell, members of the local chapter of the American Red Cross; Donald Bennett, Georgia Forestry Commission senior ranger; and Chief Kenneth Hannon, Moultrie Fire Department.

Special acknowledgement was given to the founders of the Colquitt County Volunteer Fire Association, Dick Chambers and Cleo Truluck, both present at the banquet, the late L.C. Manning and the late Earl Hart. Chambers was the first chief of Funston VFD; Truluck, the first chief of Southside VFD; Manning, the first chief of Northside VFD and Hart, the first chief of Ellenton VFD. Without the forethought and insight these individuals had to achieve their goals for the VFD, the association would not be where it is today, officials said.

This year’s guest speaker was Gary Argo, Colquitt County EMS assistant director. Argo has been with the ambulance services of Colquitt County for 10 years. During his career, he has worked with many counties including Tift, Lowndes, Coffee and Atkinson, but he believes that Colquitt County has the best first responder program in the state. He told the group that in some counties, first responders are used only in wrecks, and in other counties in Georgia, there are no active first responder programs at all.

Colquitt County First Responders are used for any emergency situation: wrecks, heart attacks, seizures and the list goes on. First responders are able to get to the scene of an emergency situation in the county sooner than the ambulance, and they are able to start treatment and keep EMS informed of patient vital signs, which allows EMS personnel to be better prepared to give treatment when they reach the scene.

“I don’t need to stand here and tell you how good you are,” Argo told the assembly. “It shows every day. I want each of you to know that myself and all of EMS appreciate everything you do.”

He closed by saying the volunteers are an elite group, who volunteer out of the goodness of their hearts; they like to do it and they do it for the betterment of man.

Each year, Colquitt County EMS chooses one person to receive the First Responder of the Year Award. This year, departments nominated someone from each department who showed special dedication and commitment to their community. Nominees included: Murray Barfield and Randy Bennett, Northside; Wesley Beamon, Culbertson; Tina Bridwell, Berlin; Andy Carroll, Hamilton; Michael Chafin, Ellenton; Anthony Cooper, Bay; Timmy Cooper, Autreyville, Scott Michie, Westside; Danny Riggins, Norman Park; and Lamar Weeks, Funston.

This year’s recipient of the First Responder of the Year Award was Wesley Beamon of Culbertson VFD.

” . . . Beamon is always willing to do what is needed and has left his job many times to help someone in need,” Argo said.

He and a colleague recently received a pre-hospital save by using the automatic defibrillator on a person in cardiac arrest. Beamon is in his sixth year as a first responder volunteer and in 2003, he did not miss a call.

Colquitt County has approximately 190 volunteers in the first responder and Colquitt County volunteer fireman programs. They do not receive compensation for the time and effort they give to the community.