The dedication of two firetrucks, preceded by an apparatus parade, will be held Saturday by the Diligence Fire Company in Summit Hill.

The parade will begin at 1 p.m., with the dedication set in front of the fire house on West Ludlow Street at 2 p.m.

Kevin Steber, president of the fire company, said the parade is a judged event, with the judging occurring from 10 a.m. to noon at the east side of town’s cemeteries.

He said that so far nearly a dozen fire departments have said they will be participating in the parade.

Fire Chief Shawn Hoben said the parade will begin near the cemeteries, proceed on White Street, around St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and disband at the fire house.

“The route is in reverse of the town’s annual Memorial Day parade,” he said.

Following the dedication, the band Catch Twenty-3 will provide music.

There will be two food trucks on the premises with a wide variety of selections, Steber said.

Dedicated will be a 2024 Freightliner tanker with a Pierce body, obtained in late 2023, and a 2025 Ford F-250 fast response utility vehicle.

Hoben said the dedication was planned to be held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, a national observance beginning Oct. 5.

In addition, he said the dedication is coordinated with the fire department’s main fund drive. Appeal letters have been mailed to Summit Hill residents.

The letters can either be returned with donations by mail or brought to the dedication program on Saturday.

The letter campaign is the department’s largest fundraiser, Hoben said.

Steber said the main speaker at the dedication will be Michael Wargo, vice president of Enterprise Emergency Operations with HCA Healthcare, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Wargo previously served as chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee for the Federation of American Hospitals.

He also previously led the medical operations of the Northeast Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Force.

Wargo was the administrator and chief of emergency operations for Lehigh Valley Health Network, and an experienced flight nurse and administrator of LVHN-MedEvac.

Other speakers will include Steber, Hoben and local officials including David Wargo, president of Summit Hill Borough Council.

Steber said souvenir mugs and T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Hoben said, “We welcome the community in helping to celebrate the purchase of this apparatus. We’re keeping the fire department equipped for the 21st century.

“This wouldn’t be possible if not for members of the fundraising committee, borough officials, elected officials, and especially the residents and business owners in the community.”

The fire department’s dedication committee is comprised of Hoben, Steber, Ron Yuricheck, Colton Black, Richie Boyd, Sherri Buzik, Olivia Dacey, Riley Hoben, Brandon Miller, Louis Mitchalk, Len Ogozalek, Bobby O’Gurek, Mark Olving, Kim Olving, Maggie Pribilla and Joey Shelton.