As Marc Hottenstein would surely attest, there is no ‘I’ in team.

Perhaps that best explains why Hottenstein was recognized Monday as the 2016 Firefighter of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 256, Lehighton.The award is given to an outstanding volunteer firefighter at the Lehigh Fire Company No. 1 of Lehighton.Harry J. Wynn III, past commander of the VFW, said this year marked the 20th annual award presented by the VFW.“It’s turned into a very wonderful, fine event,” Wynn said. “Whoever wins it is representing the fire company.”At that, Wynn announced Hottenstein as this year’s recipient.Hottenstein graciously accepted the award.“This means a lot,” Hottenstein said. “It’s great to have a team of people here that care.”Hottenstein said, “I would not want to be anywhere else than with this team right here in Lehighton.”A firefighter for the past 22 years, Hottenstein said he has seen a lot of people come and go.“The people that are here, it’s a team; no one person is to be singled out,” he said. “Everybody deserves this plaque; this is for the whole team.”Hottenstein said he was “surprised” to win the award, as it was “something that had not been expected.”Kenneth Repsher, VFW commander, said Hottenstein was deserving of the award, which reads, “In special recognition and highest praise for alertness, personal courage and ever vigilant guardianship of life and property.”“Firefighters do a great job all year long,” Repsher said. “It’s just our way of showing our appreciation for them doing a great job all year long.”Firefighters who received the award in past years are: Larry Diehl, Rodney Rehnert, Gary Frable, Michael Mriss, Wayne E. Nothstein, Dave Oswald, Jim Hauser, Paul Mriss, Steve Ebbert, Chris Ritter, Scott Nothstein, Patrick Mriss, John Kuller, Martin Spezialetti, Justin Klotz, Joseph Flickinger, Jason A. Nothstein, Douglas J. Nothstein and Daniel Oswald Jr.