Public turns out to support first responders

FAIRFIELD — Jefferson County residents showed their support for the area’s first responders by gathering at Fairfield’s Maasdam Barns Saturday for a cookout.

The event was an appreciation dinner to honor police officers, deputies, ambulance staff, dispatchers and jailers in the county. The Fairfield Fire Department flew its giant American flag from its aerial truck, as residents enjoyed a meal served by the Jefferson County Pork Producers and Jefferson County Cattlemen. The event was made possible by those two local organizations as well as Farm Bureau, Hy-Vee and Walmart. Money raised at the cookout will go toward the community’s first responder organizations.

Lee Dimmitt, one of the organizers of the event, said he was glad to see members of the community enjoying themselves and visiting with first responders. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that Doug Smith brought his horses to the event to give carriage rides.

“We’re planning to make it even bigger and better next year,” Dimmit said.

Several first responders from the area’s emergency medical and law enforcement agencies attended the event, including veteran paramedic Cathy Giberson. Giberson works for Jefferson County Ambulance, is the president of the EMS Association, and has been in emergency services for 35 years. She said she was humbled to see so many people come out Saturday to support the first responders.

“It’s so humbling, and it’s so nice to see people that I’ve worked on as a paramedic,” she said.

Fairfield Police Chief David Thomas said Saturday’s attendance for the cookout is “why I love Iowa.”

“EMS is always dealing with the negative, so it’s nice to have positive interactions for a change,” he said. “Not a lot of areas would show this much support [for first responders].”

Brett Ferrel, Jefferson County Emergency Management Coordinator and Assistant Fire Chief in Fairfield, said first responders don’t do what they do for the glory, but it is nice to receive recognition. He said Saturday was a good opportunity to talk to the public about what the various agencies do and how they all work as a team.

Ferrel mentioned that there have been other first responder appreciation events in the county, several of which focusing on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Fairfield Fire Chief Lyle Hannes said the appreciation cookout was evidence that “we live in a great town.” He said he enjoyed meeting with folks who told him they didn’t realize how many people they saw on a daily basis were first responders, because they saw them at the grocery store out of uniform.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Jerry Marcellus said the event made him proud to work in public service.

“It’s great to feel the community is behind us and that they appreciate what we do,” he said. “This was a nice gesture, especially in the climate we’re in now where EMS is not always appreciated.”

PEO Chapter MB of Fairfield had a team of volunteers at the event to wait cleans and help with cleanup. Jennifer Anderson, one of the group’s members, said her team felt it was important to give back to the area’s first responders.

“It’s a good thing we can do together,” Anderson said.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com