Dear Grant Township Officials & Trustees,
On December 20 2021, I will complete 22 years of service with the Grant Township Fire Department and my status will change from inactive to retired.
I began a volunteer (paid-on call) role in the fire service in December of 1999 vowing to serve the community members in the Grant Township Fire Department’s service area and beyond. I was steadfast in this vow which began in the 90’s and is now ending in the 20’s. I was honored to serve under one of the greatest Chiefs to ever don the gear. Roland Brooks served as a professional and personal mentor to me. During my tenure, I saw the building of a new fire station and watched 6 new trucks go into service for the very first time.
I took major fire related trainings including Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, EMT Basic, more state offered courses than I can count and completed leadership classes from officer prerequisites all the way to Fire Chief 101. I carry State of Michigan titles of Fire Officer 3 and Fire Instructor 1.
For half of my career, I maintained the role of training officer for our department. I was able to transform our trainings into one of the most positively talked about programs in our county. I started up a road rally event that would challenge the firefighters to locate addresses in our district and perform fire related duties. We hosted vehicle fire and various extrication classes, (including vehicles, racecars, and agricultural apparatus) that involved neighboring fire departments and EMS. I even spearheaded a county-wide training event that highlighted the Double JJ Resort which served as a preplan event should an incident occur there. This event took hours of preparation and drew nearly 70 firefighters from the region! It was my mission to make our training relevant and as real as possible so that our firefighters would be prepared to act when called upon.
It was my honor to donate various funding
and many hours to the department building props and developing training activities. I was responsible for tracking the training of every member of our department. Each January, I provided a summary report of trainings attended by each member to the Fire Chief. I was called upon numerous times to assist with developing and sending quotes for the Electric Forest Festivals.
I also aided in scheduling workers as well as handling payroll for all the hours worked each of the 9 years of its existence. I kept meticulous records and put together service reports for each festival.
As far as Public Relation events, it was my job at fire prevention night to provide escape drill training to kids using Walkerville’s fire training trailer. I also volunteered to drive our apparatus in several parades over the years. We hosted fire department tours for parents and kids alike during fire academy classes that I taught. I took part in an event that would see firefighters installing smoke detectors in houses of community members in need. Finally, I organized and executed a day of joy for the Sima family as they would prepare for the passing of their 6-year-old son Gavin. The boys took part in a training exercise which would ultimately lead to honorary firefighter certifications. I, along with the help of our leadership team at the time was able to help the family make lasting memories and share some laughter and smiles just 2 short weeks before young Gavin passed from cancer.
Tragedy would strike the department as we lost our brother Mike November 18 of 2020. As we battled the emotions, our longtime Chief would fall ill and eventually lose his battle. Our department was entering shock. I helped to coordinate a class trying to support the mental wellness of our crew. Chief Styles would present his “Hey are you Ok” class to our group in early February. It is my sincerest wish for all members of the department to continue safely and successfully. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be true as it is in great hands with Chief Yost and crew.
I will always cherish the memories from my time with the Grant Township Fire Department. Some of these memories include:
· hours with friends at the racetrack on Friday nights (I will never forget Frank or the squirrel)
· being the photographer at golf outings
· assisting with casino bus trips
· the occasional practical jokes among the guys
· the dinners on meeting nights
· hours of lawn chair conversations with Chief Brooks at the Festival each year
· working with Roy Ramey as an actor in his once famous haunted corn mazes
· many conversations with late Township Supervisor Dave Woller. The admiration and respect that he had for the fire department was always evident and his appreciation was always shared.
· Longtime Township Clerk Bill Wagner always had the room laughing during our firefighter celebration each year.
· Every single member who served during my tenure has impacted me positively. I could name them all and it would be quite a list. Family is the best way to describe these men and women.
Thank you all for being a part of the journey. Being a community servant has made me a better person and I owe that to the members I served along side of as well as the Township officials both past and present who allowed me the opportunity. I appreciate you all.
In kindest regards,
Christopher D. Aebig
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