PROCLAMATION from Fred Camillo, First Selectman
WHEREAS, In 1948, Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company was formed to protect the residents and estates of the backcountry of Greenwich. For the last 75 years, the volunteer firefighters of Round Hill have provided unprecedented first response emergency services, protecting life and property, to the Greenwich backcountry and all of Greenwich; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, a young Richard Strain Jr., only months out of high school, became a member of Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company, and has continued to serve as an extraordinarily active volunteer for 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Richard was elected Volunteer District Chief of Round Hill in 1983 and served valiantly and honorably in that position for 40 years. His tenure is likely the longest in the state of Connecticut, New England, and perhaps the country. During those 40 years as Chief, Round Hill’s volunteers responded to 13,917 emergency calls – nearly one call per day, every day of the year, for 40 years; and
WHEREAS, Richard comes from a firefighting family, including his great-grandfather, grandfather, father and uncle, and he has extended their family tradition and their commitment to the Town of Greenwich with his wife, Linda, a 45-year Round Hill volunteer, their son, Will, a career firefighter in Greenwich, and their daughter, Sharon, who is the new Volunteer District Chief at Round Hill; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Greenwich owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Richard for his 50 years of selfless service and commitment to the Town of Greenwich, and his leadership of Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company, the only all-volunteer fire company in Greenwich, for 40 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, l, Fred Camillo, FIRST SELECTMAN OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH, do
hereby proclaim October 16, 2023 as
Volunteer District Chief Richard Strain Jr. Day
in the Town of Greenwich and urge all residents to join me in celebrating and in recognizing Richard’s contributions to our Town and in wishing him well in his retirement and future endeavors.