NORTH TONAWANDA, NY — March 8th — Gary Braunscheidel was honored by the Wendelville Fire Company for his 62 years of community and departmental service. Vice President Joseph Riester gave the honor to Braunscheidel during a recent department meeting. In volunteer fire departments, service milestones are a long-standing custom that represent decades of training, community support, and emergency response.

Members who accomplish these goals frequently devote thousands of hours to departmental activities, drills, and fireground operations. Additionally, long-serving firemen are crucial in training younger members and imparting operational skills. Braunscheidel's six decades of service, according to department officials, demonstrate a strong dedication to the volunteer fire service and the citizens that the Wendelville Fire Company protects.