At least nine fire companies from around the area turned out to pay tribute to two Franklin Township firefighters in honor of their 50 years of service to Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company and the community.

Bruce E. Wolfe and Francis G. Kresge were honored first with a parade of fire company trucks that started at St. Luke’s Carbon campus and ended at the fire company. Then everyone went into the social hall where Fire Chief Lynn Diehl thanked them for their service, and introduced the guests who presented both with plaques and citations.

Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Lilly presented them with plaques that read, “On behalf of the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company we congratulate and honor Francis G. Kresge (and Bruce E. Wolfe) on 50 years of service to our community. We appreciate your dedication & service.”

Supervisors Jason Frey, Fred Kemmerer Jr., and Robin Cressley presented a plaque to each man.

“Back in the early ’80s, my house caught fire, and these two gentlemen were there, making sure that we all got out,” Supervisor Kemmerer shared. “Everything that you do with your communities is important. That’s why you’re doing it. For the fifty years of service that these two gentlemen have provided to Franklin Township, it’s important to honor them in a way that we, as supervisors, appreciate it one hundred percent.”

Carbon County Commissioners Rocky Ahner and Wayne Nothstein also presented citations on behalf of the Commissioners, and presented one on behalf of State Rep. Doyle Heffley, who was unable to attend.

“It is indeed an honor to see so many people gathered here to honor two of our own for their 50 years of service,” Nothstein said.

Bruce Wolfe joined the Franklin Fire Company on Aug. 16, 1973.

During the 50 years, he was fire chief for 16 years, assistant chief for 10 years, captain for seven years, engineer for one year, vice president for two years, treasurer for two years, and a trustee for one year.

Francis Kresge joined Aug. 23, 1973. He was a firefighter from 1973 to 1985, and in the fire police from 1986 to present. He served as fire police captain for 11 years, lieutenant for 14 years, president for six years, vice president for seven years, and has been a trustee for the fire company for the past eleven years.

Kresge said that he was shocked at the turnout. When asked if anything over the past 50 years stands out, he replied.

“A lot of things stand out. The first thing we had (in 1973), we were going on a brush fire. Bruce was standing out in his yard. Bups (Russell “Bups” Ahner) was the chief then, and he yelled, ‘Stop!’ I stopped the truck, and Bups said to Bruce, ‘Come on, let’s go!’. Bruce came on the truck and he’s been with us ever since.”

“I’m happy that everyone came out,” Wolfe said.