The Eli Whitney Volunteer Fire Department (EWVFD) will host an emergency vehicle parade and celebration next Sunday, July 10, to honor the retirement of Floyd McBane, who has served the community for six decades with the EWVFD after being a founding member in 1962.
McBane has served with 10 fire chiefs and has run more than 3,000 calls helping the community. He was there when the station received its official charter and its first fire truck, and he was instrumental in establishing the waterpoints for the department. McBane, who currently holds the dual role of safety officer and chaplain for the department, has served in many capacities over the years including firefighter, emergency vehicle driver, lieutenant, captain, supervisor of junior firefighters and fire prevention program coordinator.
The community is invited to join the festivities beginning at 3:00 p.m. with an emergency vehicle parade showcasing fire trucks, ambulances and rescue vehicles. Fire trucks from Eli Whitney, other Alamance County communities, and other counties that have helped Eli Whitney in the past will be a part of the parade. McBane will be the grand marshal.
The parade will run along Greensboro Chapel Hill Road starting at the Eli Whitney Recreation Center, which was the site of the original Eli Whitney Fire Station, and ending at the Eli Whitney Community Center, the location for Fire Station from 1964-2008.
Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at the Eli Whitney Community Center starting around 4:00 p.m. Community members wishing to attend the ceremony are asked to RSVP at floyd60ewvfd@gmail.com by July 5.
