Mahoning Valley Fire Company dedicated its newest piece of apparatus on Saturday to a person who was active for nearly a half century. Dayle W. Smith was a member for 49 years until his death on Oct. 18, 2019.

Besides honoring Smith, four other longtime members were presented with plaques during the fire company’s eighth annual “Community Day Festival” on Saturday. They are David Pollock, who has been active in the fire department for over 50 years; Warren Steigerwalt, a 52-year member; Charles “Chuck” Pollock, who joined the department in January 1965 and is the longest serving active member; and Leonard Miller, a longtime firefighter and member of the fire police.

The truck that was dedicated is a 2020 Ford F550 brush truck purchased from Glick Fire Equipment in Bird-in-Hand, Lancaster County. The vehicle is multifunctional and replaces a 1968 vehicle that had been converted into a brush truck.

The Community Day Festival was a daylong event that featured free games for children including a firefighter’s obstacle course, a giant blow-up slide, refreshments, a 5K run, a fun walk and cornhole competition.

The highlight was the truck dedication and the recognition of its longest-serving members.

Jay Michalik, assistant chief and master of ceremonies, said, “This day, we celebrate Dayle’s life and what he did for us.”

Leonard “Bud” Strauss, a life member of the fire company and the sales representative for Glick, presented the keys of the new vehicle to Ricky Frey, whose family has been active in the fire department. Strauss was a close friend of Smith and spoke about the person for whom the truck is being dedicated.

Strauss said, “Dayle was real close to a lot of us. He was a true friend to so many of us. He was a member; a brother.”

He told the gathering of over about 200 people that Smith loved his community and was active in not only the fire company, but other organizations including serving as an emergency medical technician for Mahoning Valley Ambulance.

“One of Dayle’s greatest joys was being a part of this fire company,” Strauss said. “The one thing Dayle treasured the most was making friends.”

It was ironic, said Strauss, that a brush truck was being dedicated in his memory considering Smith was one of Pennsylvania’s original “Hot Shot” members. The Hot Shots were forest firefighters who traveled to western states to help fight devastating wildfires.

Smith’s wife, Cathy, along with Strauss, christened the new truck by breaking bottles of champagne on the front tow hooks.

Michalik said the drive to purchase the brush truck began in 2018.

The vehicle cost $343,000. Helping with the purchase of the vehicle was a FEMA grant totaling $260,000.

Fire Chief Mark Ebbert made some comments at the program. He said, “It’s not me, it’s a team to be successful. All this equipment, this apparatus, is nothing without our members.”

Michalik gave a brief history of the fire department and said, “This community is a great place to live.”

“The concept of a neighbor helping a neighbor is very simple,” he said, adding that this is the feeling of the volunteer firefighters.

“This day … is all about community,” he said.

After the truck was dedicated, it was pushed into the fire station by members of the company.