Taiwanese Firefighters Welcomed to Lower Swatara
 
By Firefighter Valerie Frigerio
May 15, 2017
 

歡迎來到 Lower Swatara 消防局! Welcome to the Lower Swatara Fire Department!

At around 1530, 9 Taiwanese firefighters arrived to Station 59, exhausted and weary from their very long day at HACC. The group was welcomed with open arms and bright smiles by the members of Company 59. Alex Chu, the leader of their troupe and a former member of Middletown Volunteer Fire Department (88), served as a friendly face and translator as the group received a tour of the station and the apparatus. At the completion of the tour, the group sat down to enjoy a traditional American picnic with the members of Company 59. As everyone ate, it gave them a chance to sit down and talk about the differences between the fire stations and tactics in Taiwan compared to those in the USA. After dinner, everyone socialized and enjoyed each others' company; playing basketball, street hockey, and riding a few four-wheelers that members brought down. State Representative Tom Mehaffie event stopped by to say hello and presented the group from Taiwan with a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania flag which had flown above the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. The Taiwanese firefighters also had gifts with them; t-shirts from their agency back home with which they presented to Company 59. When all of the evening's activities had ended, the group retired to the bunk room to spend the night. No calls for service were answered during their stay, allowing everyone to get some much needed rest.

The members of Company 59 would like to thank the Taiwanese firefighters for coming by and spending some time with us. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely! We appreciate the chance to socialize and learn about the brotherhood in another part of the wold. Come back anytime!