Fighting fires for 75 years
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
With the coronavirus pandemic dominating the news over the past few weeks, a “first” at the North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department was overshadowed by shutdowns, layoffs and social distancing.
Fire department President Tony Ross and fire Chief Kurt Parshall recently awarded the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to North Belle Vernon resident Charles R. Whitelaw, 94, affectionately known as “C.R.”
The award recognized Whitelaw, who is in his 75th year as an active member of the department, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished before.
“I didn’t know they were going to give me the award,” Whitelaw said. “I was happy to receive it, but I just take everything as it comes.”
Fighting fires runs in Whitelaw’s family. His father was a firefighter as well as his uncle and cousin.
“As a kid, I would go watch them fight fires,” he said.
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