More than 50 fire companies, hundreds of firefighters and dozens of pieces of fire apparatus passed through the streets of Wallkill on Saturday for the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association Parade.
It capped off a week of convention activities in the hamlet of Wallkill last week, including convention sessions at the brand-new firehouse, a spirit Mardi Gras parade on Friday, an impressive parade and trophy presentation on Saturday, and the installation of Wallkill’s Eric Orr as the new HVVFA.
It was a celebration more than two years in the making. Wallkill was originally scheduled to host the convention in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic put plans on ice for two years.
Among the special guests at the parade were a group of residents of the FASNY Firemen’s Home in Hudson, NY, operated by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. A group of residents from the home made the trip to Wallkill and were seated on the lawn of the Wallkill Funeral Home, next to the reviewing stand.
Awards included the following:
Mardi Gras Parade
Most Humorous - Pine Bush
Best Firematic Theme - Blue Vest
Best Theme Trophy - Cronomer Valley
Best Fire Prevention Theme - Wallkill
Musical Awards
Best Drum Line - Town of Athens
Best Musical Drum Corps - Tappan Zee Bridgeman/Mahopac
Best Musical Fife & Drum - Cvil War Troopers
Best Pipe Band - Westchester County
Best Musical Band - Danbury
Best Musical Unit High School Band - Valley Central
Best Musical Color Guard - Maybrook Boy Scouts
Apparatus
Best Appearing Antique Apparatus - Newland Stillwater
Best Appearing Utility Apparatus - Tappan
Best Appearing Rescue Truck - Napanoch
Best Appearing Tanker Truck - Coldenham
Best Ladder/Tower Ladder - Tarrytown
Best Appearing Pumper - Orangetown
Marching Awards
Best Color Guard - Non Fire Service - Maybrook Boy Scouts
Best Appearing Color Guard - Fire Service - Cronomer Valley
Best Appearing Auxiliary - Tappan
Best Appearing Fire Unit Bloused Uniform (39 or more in line) - Ossining
Best Appearing Fire Unit Dress Uniform (8-13 in line) - Newland Wood
Best Appearing Fire Unit Dress Uniform (14-18 in line) - Napanoch
Best Appearing Fire Unit Bloused Uniform (8 -19 in line) - Marlboro
Best Appearing Fire Unit Bloused Uniform (20 - 26 in line) - Orangetown
Best Appearing Fire Unit Bloused Uniform (27 - 38 in line) - Slater Chemical
Best Appearing Fire Unit Dress Uniform (19- 25 in line) - Kerhonkson
Best Appearing Fire Unit Dress Uniform (26 or more in line) - East Greenbush
Best Appearing Junior or Explorer Unit - Walden
Auxiliary Unit Traveling the Furthest Distance - Tappan
Fire Unit Traveling the Furthest Distance - Stillwater
Most in the Line of March Auxiliary Unit - Cronomer Valley
Most in the Line of March Fire Unit - Ossining
Most Outstanding Men’s and Ladies’ Combined Unit - Cronomer Valley
Best Overall Auxiliary Unit in the Line of March - Cronomer Valley
Best viral Fire Unit in the Line of March - New Windsor.