On December 19, the Watch Hill Fire Department (WHFD) held a Celebration of Service Event and Swearing In Ceremony, honoring Charlie Holdredge for 65+ years as a WHFD member, swearing in Lieutenant Rees S. Harold as Lieutenant, and recognizing contributions of seven volunteer firefighters for dedicated service to the Watch Hill Fire District.
The evening began with Chief Dennis Reall, jr. welcoming friends and family of the WHFD and thanking all in attendance. Moderator Joan Beth Brown congratulated and thanked Charles Holdredge, Lietenant Reese, all those being recognized as well as the entire WHFD “Family” for their service and dedication. She also thanked all the families who support our firefighters so that they can continue to support our community.
Assistant Chief Chris Koretski recognized longstanding Volunteer Firefighter Charles Holdredge for his 65+ years of service to the community. Charlie Holdredge became a member of the WHFD in 1956 as a firefighter, joining his father at the then Bay Street Fire Station. Charlie served as a Firefighter and later as a Fire Police Officer, and he remains an advocate and member of various WHFD committees and a valued participant at WHFD events. Fire service is part of Charlie’s family, as Charlie’s son, Brian Holdredge, was a Lieutenant at the WHFD and is currently the Captain of the Misquamicut Fire Department, and Charlie’s grandson, Brady, is currently in the Fire Academy in Kansas.
In honor of and appreciation for Charlie Holdredge’s 65+ years of dedicated service to the WHFD, the dedication to his family’s legacy of service to the WHFD, his commitment to the youth of our community, and his undying passion for being a voice for others, the WHFD dedicated their Squad 100 in Charlie’s nickname “The Voice.” Westerly Town Manager, Shawn Lacey, was also on hand to present Charlie with a Town proclamation of thanks for his service to Watch Hill.
Lieutenant Rees S. Harold was sworn in and honored. Lieutenant James Nicholas gave a brief overview of Rees’ contributions including having served as a member of the WHFD in an official capacity since he joined as a Junior Member in 2015. However, Rees was unofficially part of the WHFD long before that, as he would join his father, Chief Scott Harold, around the Fire Station during training and events. Rees continued his family legacy of WHFD fire service by becoming a full member in 2017, and since then, he has become certified by the Fire Academy as a Firefighter Level 1 and 2, along with obtaining a Hazmat Operations certification. Continuing on the family tradition, Reese’s father, prior WHFD Chief Scott Harrold, did the honor of pinning Lieutenant Rees Harold.
The event also celebrated the contributions of seven firefighters who have dedicated their time and skills to WHFD. Noting milestone years of service, these members include: Firefighter Charlie Holdredge, for 65 years of service; Past Chief Scott Harold, for 30 years of service; Past Lieutenant Brian Holdredge, for 30 years of service; Fire Police Officer Brian Capizzano, for 30 years of service; Lieutenant Dennis Evans, for 20 years of service; Firefighter Chris Wood, for 5 years of service; Firefighter Annie Wood, for 5 years of service; and, Firefighter Julie Wood, for 5 years of service.
Watch Hill Fire District Moderator Joan Beth Brown said, “we are immensely proud of the members of the WHFD and of their collective dedication to the community. On behalf of the District, I want to congratulate Lieutenant Rees Harold, and I want to thank the seven members acknowledged for milestone years of service. And of course, I want to acknowledge with appreciation all the time and work Charlie Holdredge, and his family, have given to the WHFD, and the naming of Squad 100 is so well-deserved.”
