BURRILLVILLE – Around 100 people showed up for the Burrillville Backs Our Blue & Red rally on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Stillwater Mill Pavilion, an event focused on thanking and acknowledging the work of the town’s emergency personnel, which also served as a fundraiser for the police department’s annual Christmas charity.
The event was organized by a Republican and a Democrat – Burrillville Town Council members Stephen Rawson and Jeremy Bailey. It came about “due to the national climate of anti-police activity, including defunding,” explained Rawson, vice president of the Town Council.
“Councilman Rawson approached me after we passed our police support resolution and asked me if I wanted to sponsor and plan a rally for our police, fire and rescue. I immediately said yes, and we formed a planning committee,” said Bailey, who served as emcee of the rally.
Rawson said he and Bailey, “thought it was important for the town to demonstrate support for our police, fire and first responders. This peaceful assembly is totally non partisan, non political and could be considered a peaceful protest opposing the erosion of support for our local heroes.”
“I’m honored to be part of the blue and red here in Burrillville,” Deacon Lapierre, dispatcher and chaplain for the Burrillville Police Department, told the crowd.
The Gospel says, “Love your neighbor as yourself; well my brothers and sisters, the people who respond to your emergencies do exactly that; they love their neighbor,” explained Lapierre.
Town Councilor Dennis Anderson recited and interpreted the Pledge of Allegiance in the style of the 1963 televised dissertation by Red Skelton on the meaning of the words, as the TV celebrity recalled learning as a child in 1923 classroom in Indiana.
“I grew up in a very patriotic family” said Anderson, comparing his youth with today’s world.
Jerry Leveille and Matt Swanton of The Live Music Band performed an electrifying rock instrumental version of the national anthem.
Town Council President John Pacheco, reciting from the Burrillville Town Council’s proclamation, said the board and town administration, “wish to emphasize and reinforce their commitment to the funding and personal support of the Burrillville Police and thank each member and their families for the dedicated service.”
Emergency Management Services Director Jason Rhodes said first responders today answer calls as well as, “providing services back to the community.”
Kevin Stockwell, a firefighter, related the story of Officer Kathleen Kelly helping his mother, who was in her eighties, by bringing her to appointments after the elder’s license was taken away.
Harrisville Fire Chief Michael Gingell, town native and graduate of Burrillville High School, shared his pride in the community.
His father, grandfather, his children, and granddaughter have followed in the fire and EMS service tradition, as have many other people in the town, Gingell said.
Gingell recalled when a mill was burned by an arsonist where the library now stands. The dedicated firefighters responded to the 5 a.m. alarm.
“That’s the people who serve you, the fire and EMS responders in our community,” he said.
In between the short speeches, people were buying “Burrillville Backs Our Blue and Red,” yard signs and raffle tickets, to support the police department’s annual Christmas charity, and they purchased homemade foods from the Dinolicious food truck.
Burrillville Police Col. Stephen Lynch closed out the rally.
“I thank you for the incredible good will that permeates this community,” said Lynch. “It is what makes this community special, clearly.”
Bailey, the master of ceremonies, entertained the crowd with stories, such as that of his father, a 57 year volunteer for the fire department.
“Our police department has been trained to be part of our community; Citizen’s Police Academy, community Christmas gift program, B-SAFE program to check on our seniors, drug addiction assistance, and many more,” Bailey said in an interview following the program. “Our department exemplifies what other departments around the country strive to be.”
“We set a pretty high bench mark for what a police aka public safety department should be,” he added.
“Our local first responders and fire personnel are equally as amazing,” said Bailey. “Most of us who have lived in town for any length of time have needed to call on our first responders or fire department for help in a critical time of need; health or fire emergencies, car accidents, and more.”
“The men & women from our departments always go above and beyond,” Bailey said. “Their profession doesn’t allow them to have a bad day. That’s a lot of burden to carry around, yet they rise to the occasion day in and day out. This rally is our chance as a community to say, ‘Thank you,’ and ‘We appreciate you.'”
