Polk firefighters host parade and ceremony to honor 50th anniversary

Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday with a parade, ceremony and party.

The public is invited to attend and celebrate this milestone.

The parade will begin at noon at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School. The parade will leave the school, travel west on Polk Township Road, turn left onto HTY Road, then a right onto Route 209 and proceed to the firehouse.

“People can watch the parade from anywhere along the parade route. All the roads will be shut down from noon to 2 p.m. and a detour will be in place,” said Aaron Keller, president of the fire company since January.

He joined the fire company as a junior firefighter at age 14 and has held various roles over the years.

“It’s in my blood, as I followed in my dad’s footsteps,” he said.

Past fire chiefs and former fire company presidents will ride on one of the four trailers in the parade. The other three will have the Ladies Auxiliary; local politicians and township supervisors; and residents from Getz Personal Care Home.

Polk’s apparatus, along with those from neighboring departments such as Kunkletown, West End and a few from Carbon County, will be part of the parade.

Local chapters of Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Little League teams will walk in the parade, Keller said.

A ceremony will follow shortly after the parade ends at the firehouse.

Guest speakers include Eddie Arnold, the first fire chief and one of the founding members, current fire chief Billy Tippett, Keller, a few politicians and someone from the Ladies Auxiliary. Awards will be presented after the speeches.

A large tent will be set up outside. Beltzville Bar and Grill will serve barbecue-style food. There will be a DJ playing music all afternoon. The party goes until 5 p.m.

Attendees will be able to go through Polk’s smoke trailer and see how it works. Smoke fills the trailer, and a fire alarm sounds as kids and adults practice crawling out the emergency exit in the back.

Inside the firehouse, photos from the past 50 years will be displayed. Guests may bring photos they have of the firefighters in action, apparatus, firehouse and special events.