The 75th Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention started on Saturday, April 30th with the Memorial Service honoring those who passed in 2021. Several RVFD members were remembered. During the Awards Ceremony that followed, Ridge VFD received several awards. The Fire Prevention Committee received 1st Place in Category (Class IV), the Roland B. Duke Memorial Leg Trophy for Best Fire Prevention Entry, and Lieutenant/Fire Prevention Officer Scot Best was awarded the W. David Gott Memorial Fire Prevention Award. Incident Safety Officer Philip “Heavy” Ridgell won the Frank Cotrufo, Jr. Safety Award, and RVFD Auxiliary Vice President Jessica Snyder was inducted into the SMVFA Hall of Fame. Great honors all around!

On Sunday, May 1st, we brought every piece of apparatus, the fire prevention mobile classroom, honor guard and marchers, an RVFD Auxiliary float, the “Future Firefighters” special marching unit, and a fire prevention float with Sparky the Fire Dog. Ridge VFD and Auxiliary had a great showing! We brought home 10 trophies, including with the covenanted Best Overall trophy!

Best Appearing Rescue Engine (Rescue Engine 42)
Best Appearing Fire Truck Over 25 yrs old & In Service (Engine 43)
Best Appearing Fire Boat 250gpm (Boat 4)
2nd Best Appearing Tanker (Tanker 4)
2nd Best Appearing Engine 1250gpm or less (Engine 41)
Best Appearing Fire Prevention Entry (Float and Mobile Classroom)
Best Appearing Marching Unit - Non-Fire Department (Future Firefighters Unit)
Best Appearing Little Fire Ambassador (Birdie Cooper in Lil’ Engine 4)
Special Judges Awards (awarded to each marching Future Firefighter)
Best Appearing Company Overall

Our hard-working volunteers put in several days and nights of planning, cleaning, and preparing leading up to the parade. Company pride was evident!

We’d like to thank Bay District Volunteer Fire Department for hosting the 75th Convention and Parade, and a huge congratulations to BDVFD Fire Chief Joe Gould on becoming the President of the SMVFA!