Community members and public officials joined Calloway County Fire-Rescue volunteers Saturday afternoon to dedicate the training facility that the organization has spent the last year-and-a-half building.

After welcoming remarks by CCFR Chief Tommy Morgan, training officer Heath Ryan talked about the word, “dedication,” saying that in the case of the facility, it meant much more than a ceremony to open a building.

“When I thought about it, we’re really not here for that (kind of dedication) today; we’re here for another definition, which is, ‘self-sacrificing devotion,’” Ryan said. “When I think of dedication, I think of all of our brother and sister firefighters, EMS workers, police that are out there every day helping others. I think of the countless hours of training that they go through to learn the skills needed to safely respond.

“Specifically, I think of how the members of Calloway County Fire-Rescue pull together as one each and every time, no matter what the task given, big or small. This training facility is definitely a testament to those thousands of hours of dedication that this department gives to our community every day to make it safer.”

Rich Edwards, who coordinated the facility construction project, said CCFR applied to the Kentucky Fire Commission for a grant on June 12, 2009. They informed in January 2010 that they had been awarded $68,500, and construction began on May 22, 2010. He said an estimated $73,500 were donated by CCFR volunteers, individuals and businesses in the community and region, bringing the total cost of the project to about $142,000. Since the building has already been appraised at close to $250,000, Edwards said the facility showed a remarkable return on the community’s investment.

Edwards said CCFR volunteers and supporters had contributed great deal of labor and sacrifice into the project and that it had brought them all closer together.

“It has meant much more to us than just being a building,” Edwards said. “It’s been about building friendships, it’s been about building working relationships, it’s been about trust, working with one another, getting to know each other. Just last weekend, we brought in a brand new recruit class. What an amazing showing they’ve had in just a week of being here.”

Edwards became emotional as he thanked his wife, Jerina – another CCFR volunteer – for supporting him and the organization through the long project as he spent so much time away from home. He said Jerina had given birth to their daughter since the project started, and that similar to their family change, CCFR had also undergone a lot of staff and administrative changes.

Edwards and another board chairman, Terry Ridgely, later presented plaques to individuals and businesses who donated time, labor, materials or money to the project.

Shawn Miller with the Governor’s Office read a statment from Gov. Steve Beshear congratulating CCFR on the completion of the project. Pat Thompson, board member with the Kentucky Fire Commission, said the commission was only able to give $500,000 back to firefighters across the state each year, but that it gets close $9 million in grant requests annually.

“I’m glad to be here today for this dedication for a wonderful facility,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for the fire commission to contribute your funds, your insurance surcharge money back into your community.”