The 17th annual Celebration of Community held Saturday on the grounds of Mahoning Valley Fire Company had some ancillary purposes.

Mahoning Valley Assistant Fire Chief Jay Michalik said the main reason was to say thank you to the Mahoning Valley community for its support.

Michalik said it also:

• Served to introduce young people to the fire department and hopefully get some of them interested for future membership and service.

• Give special recognition to a few individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the fire department.

• Introduce former members of the fire department.

• Show off the first external siren of the fire department, a pagoda-shaped device that has been elaborately refurbished.

Although no official attendance figures were available because it was a free, day-long event, Michalik said he was pleased with the turnout.

There were activities for people of all ages. Free games for the children included ring toss, hatchet throw (Styrofoam hatchet with a magnet), fishing game, firefighting challenge and a giant, blow-up obstacle course and slide. Adults could participate in a 5K run and mile walk, corn hole tournament and basket raffle.

At the conclusion, there was a chief-versus-chief relay race through the obstacle course in which a team put together by Michalik competed against a team organized by Fire Chief Mark Ebbert.

The fire department had its apparatus on display. Music was played by Colossal Radio.

During a formal speaking part of the event, three Friends of the Firefighters awards were presented:

Resident Ralph Nally was given a plaque for making numerous financial contributions and then joining the fire department as a member of the kitchen crew.

“This is why Mahoning Valley is a beautiful place to live, because of people like Mr. Nally,” Michalik said.

All Points Towing, represented by Jarred Hoffman, was given an award for its assistance at emergency scenes. Michalik said not only has All Points Towing helped at motor vehicle accident scenes but assisted the fire company several times when apparatus broke down.

The Sword Tag Society, based in Lehighton, was given a large sword replica for helping with children’s events at all 17 Celebration of Community events at the fire company. The award was accepted by Tony Bear, vice president of the society.

Michalik praised all the volunteers - present and past - saying the volunteer firefighters are “your neighbors dropping whatever they’re doing to go help a neighbor in need.”

He said the fire company was begun in 1951 and has endured because of “people who believed in this community, who live here.”

“Our job now is to carry that torch into the future,” he said.

Also participating in the Celebration of Community were members of the Lehighton Area High School National Honor Society, the Parryville Fire Company and the Mahoning Valley Lions Club.