Firefighters of the Year hear applause instead of alarms By Karen Florin Publication: The Day Published 03/12/2012 12:00 AM Updated 03/12/2012 02:51 PM Annual New London Elks banquet lets departments single out members for honors New London - The men and women who run into burning buildings and provide patients with a comforting pat on the shoulder while providing them with emergency medical care relaxed and ate prime rib Sunday as the New London Elks, BPOE 360, honored them at its annual Firefighters Day banquet. Community leaders, legislators and fire administrators presented proclamations to the Firefighters of the Year while their colleagues provided a steady stream of applause and ribbing. John Fratus, a paramedic for Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and a 51-year volunteer for the Oswegatchie Fire Department, accepted awards from both organizations along with two standing ovations. Fratus has been battling cancer but has remained involved as a trainer even when he was unable to work in the field. Speaker after speaker remarked on his enthusiasm and passion for helping. "Even I have been a recipient of John's paramedic services," said event co-Chairman Herb Eldridge, a retired police officer and a volunteer firefighter. "When he shows up, believe me, everything is going to be OK." Like all of the honorees, Fratus deflected the praise and thanked his co-workers and the community. He said he "fully expects to be back on the road in the near future." "Thanks for allowing me to enjoy my passion," he said. As for his calming presence with patients, Fratus said, "Sometimes just putting your hand on the shoulder and getting rid of the anxiety is half the job." Eldridge said the Elks lodge has been honoring firefighters from the towns within the lodge's jurisdiction for about 15 years and that he and members Richard Kirchhoff and Edward Hallisey have always co-chaired the event. "We ask the various departments involved to submit a name of one of their members they wish to have recognized as their firefighter of the year," Eldridge said. This years honorees are: Todd Patton of the New London Fire Department, Fratus from L&M and Oswegatchie, Paul Masterson Jr. from the Jordan Fire Company, Joshua Carson from the Quaker Hill Fire Company, Mark Zanghetti from the Goshen Fire Company; and Andrew Edmonds from the Cohanzie Fire Company. Also, William Allen, a paid firefighter for the Town of East Lyme, Alison Hoffner, a volunteer from the Niantic Fire Department, Carl Sposato from the Mohegan Tribal Fire Department, Richard Dole, a paid firefighter from the Town of Montville, Gottfried Beisel from the Montville Fire Department, Ed Reynolds from the Oakdale Fire Department and Bert Davis from the Chesterfield Fire Department. k.florin@theday.com

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