American Legion Post #53 and other community organizations joined together to service a new trailer to help Hillsdale County Firefighters and other first responders fight off the summer heat.
The trailer will provide a variety of accommodations including shade canopies, chairs, snacks, cold compresses, and sanitary items for first responders who work to keep the community safe, according to Corey Murray, a veteran and former Hillsdale township volunteer firefighter.
Murray said the Legion began implementing the idea to support first responders after a structure fire on a hot day in August 2021.
“We started with just one cooler with ice, cold Gatorade, and water,” Murray said. “Just after that incident we responded to a drowning in Amboy Township and provided cold drinks to first responders on that scene.”
One of the main reasons they assembled the trailer was to help firefighters stay hydrated and continue fighting fires efficiently, according to Murray.
The Legion followed up with community leaders across the county to determine how best to aid the firefighters. The Legion discovered an old enclosed trailer sitting behind the Jonesville Fire Department that used to belong to the Hillsdale County Fire Association and got to work on restoring the trailer for reuse.
“JJ Hodshire, the CEO and President of Hillsdale Hospital, catapulted this program to the forefront for us after we received a generous $5,000 donation from the hospital that provided seed money for us going into it,” Murray said.
Upon acquiring the trailer, it went to Hillsdale Buick GMC, where it was refurbished and painted. Both of these companies and several others, including the Reading Firemen’s Association, Jonesville Lumber, and the Sons and Auxiliary Members of the Reading American Legion Post, joined in showcasing their support of the initiative, according to Murray.
Murray said Hillsdale’s community is coming together to take care of those who take care of us.
“It was so nice to get rehydrated and grab a quick snack to boost my energy before continuing with fire operations,” Hillsdale City Firefighter Daniel Poole said. “As firefighters, we are very thankful that the Legion has thought about a need that usually gets overlooked. It helps make a very hard job a little easier.”
Murray said the program has the capability of expanding.
“It’s my belief the program itself is a great opportunity for other American Legions throughout the state — and perhaps the nation — to re-engage with their communities while providing a vital service to our hometown heroes,” Murray said. “That’s what The American Legion is all about. Veteran’s Serving America isn’t just a catchphrase.”
