The Williamson Fire Department was honored at Thursday’s city council meeting for their continued support of Muscular Dystrophy. The department holds a fundraiser every year called “boot day” to raise money for the Office of Muscular Dystrophy. The department has been participating in “boot day” for approximately 40 years.

This event consists of fire fighters standing in the middle of the road collecting money in a fireman’s boot.

The money collected in the fund raiser is presented during WSAZ’s telethon on television to the charity.

Zach Baisden, who has Muscular Dystrophy, was present at the meeting and requested that the council, proclaim the month of September Fire Fighter Appreciation Month in Williamson. The council agreed to the proclamation. Baisden also presented the fire fighters with a plaque for their efforts.

Though the fire fighters were honored by the gesture, it was a bitter sweet presentation. President of the International Association Fire Fighter Local 968 Michael Casey spoke at the council meeting and stated that the success of fund raiser could be contributed to Lt. Bobby Ryan, a fire fighter that was injured in an automobile accident on May 1 near Lake Sheridan. Ryan was on his way home from a doctor’s appointment when a driver crossed the center line shattering the firefighter’s elbow, breaking two vertebrate, fracturing his pelvis and dislocating his ankles. Ryan also received a traumatic brain injury which has caused his to have memory loss and other problems.

The fire fighters say that they are dedicating this year’s “boot day” to Ryan because he was always the driving force behind the fund raiser.

“Bobby wanted to make the public award and he was a very dedicated firefighter,” said Casey. “Bobby inspired us every Labor Day weekend to brave some of the hottest days of the year in the street for Jerry’s kids.”

“I was first hired on four years ago and worked Bobby’s shift,” said vice president of the International Association Fire Fighter Local 968 Joey Carey. “One of the important things I learned from him was how important it was to help people no matter what.”

“I learned a lot about fire service from Bobby and one of the most important things I learned was to be dedicated to boot day,” Carey added. “We will do our best to make him proud.”

The fire department is asking everyone to support this year’s fund raiser and to add an extra dollar or quarter for Bobby when donating money.

“Bobby and I are close friends, go back to high school and have worked together,” said Mounts. “He always inspired me to help people.”

Mounts also stated that “boot day” was a direct reflection of the generosity of the people in the Tug Valley area.