The 132nd Maryland State Firefighters Convention was held in Ocean City, Maryland from June 16th thru the 19th. On the 19th, was the Firefighters Parade and the department participated in hopes of bringing the Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award back to Mechanicsville, where it's resided for the last two years. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon a department and shall be presented to the company which, in the sole opinion of the parade judges, presents the best overall appearance considering such factors as the number of and composition of units, number of personnel in uniform, decorum, demeanor, and esprit de corps.

Seventy members were in attendance and participated in the parade, while a crew remained back in Mechanicsville to cover any emergencies that we were alerted on.

At the trophy presentation we were awarded the following for our efforts:

**Best Appearing Junior or Cadet Company
**Junior Fire Chief Making Best Appearance - Christopher Raley
**Little Miss Fire Prevention 2nd Best Appearance - Rylynn Raley
**Junior Miss Fire Prevention 2nd Best Appearance - Callie Turner
**Miss Fire Prevention 3rd Best Appearance - Avery Copsey
**Fire Prevention Entry Making Best Appearance – Governors Award - Prevention Float
**Fire Service Color Guard 2nd Best Appearance
**Auxiliary in Uniform Coming the Longest Distance
**Best Appearing Maryland Fire Auxiliary in Uniform
**Marine Rescue Unit Making Best Appearance - MSU 22
**Command Unit Making Best Appearance - Car 2
**Squad Truck Making Best Appearance - Squad 2
**Brush Unit Honorable Mention (3) - Brush 2
**Pumper Tanker Making Best Appearance (1500-gallon capacity tank and over) - Engine-Tanker 2
**Fire Engines – 1250 GPM Making 2nd Best Appearance - Engine 23
**Fire Engines – 1250 GPM Making Best Appearance - Engine 22
**Company with Most Uniformed Emergency Service Personnel
**Best Appearing Fire Department Marching Unit (10 or more personnel)

**Maryland Company Making Best Appearance - Chief A. Marvin Gibbons Memorial Award

Also recognized for his nomination towards the Marbery F. Gates Service Cup for his fifty years of dedicated service, was our Past President and current Board of Director William G. Wilkerson.

**Some photos courtesy of Photographer Mike Hodges