“We just don’t have the membership right now,” he said.
Donnelly announced about two months ago that the fire department couldn’t organize the parade, he said, and asked if other community organizations would like to take it over.
No one came forward, so the decision was made to cancel the event, Donnelly said.
“It was a disappointment that we couldn’t keep doing it,” he said.
The planning process is much more work than most people think, Donnelly said.
“It takes not just a week or so,” he said. “Usually a month, two months ahead of time we have to call the other organizations and see if they want to participate.”
Then the lineup has to be created, he said, to ensure the parade moves smoothly.
The Pike Township Fire Department is staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters, Donnelly said. The EMS workers are paid, he said, but don’t receive health insurance benefits.
“Nowadays it’s harder to find volunteers on the fire side of it,” he said.
More firefighters are looking for paid work with benefits, he said, and his department can’t provide that.
Donnelly grew up in the area, he said, and has fond memories of the parade.
“I’ve heard some people are kind of upset,” he said.
One of those people is his sister-in-law, Shari Donnelly, who also grew up watching the parade.
“People line the streets,” she said. “…It’s just part of our community, it’s a tradition.”
Both are hopeful the parade could return in the future if volunteers come forward.
“Maybe if we’re lucky we can do it next year,” Jerry Donnelly said.
The Fire Department will still hold it’s annual Ice Cream Social on Memorial Day.
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