Longtime Volunteer Firefighters Honored

At the March22 Board of Supervisors netting, life members Dave Pennypacker and Ray Gillespie were honored by the Board with proclamations for David’s 60th and Raymond’s 50th year of service. Both of these fine gentlemen can still be found at the firehouse almost every day. Thank you and congratulations!

A post shared by NewtownFireAssociation (@newtownfireassociation) on Mar 24, 2017 at 1:20pm PDT

Two longtime Newtown-area volunteers were honored recently.

Newtown Fire Association members Raymond Gillespie Jr. and Dave Pennepacker were thanked for the decades of service to the community.

Gillespie first volunteered for the fire service in 1967 and served in various roles, including as a trustee, over his 50 years. He is a retired employee of the Newtown Post Office.

Pennepacker, a retired employee of the Newtown Post Office, as well, joined the Newtown Fire Association in 1957. He is a former president of the volunteer fire company and helped the organization purchase the 1965 Ward La France rescue truck that now is a museum piece at the Liberty Street station in Newtown Borough.

Before the Board of Supervisors last week, Newtown Fire Association Chief Matthew Gerhard said volunteers respond to 248 calls for service last year. He added that firefighters spent thousands of hours of their own time to serve the community.