On Saturday September 28, 2013, the Thorndale Fire Company participated in the 134th Pennsylvania State Firemen's Association Convention Parade, which was hosted by the Fame Fire Company of West Chester. The event also marked the 175th Anniversary of the Fame Fire Company which has served the Borough of West Chester and surrounding municipalities since 1838.

Many hours of preparation were put into the apparatus as each piece of equipment was removed and cleaned, while the apparatus compartments were given a thorough scrubbing. All apparatus was washed and waxed, with polishing of the chrome finishing out the process.

Crews began arriving at the station at 06:30 to prepare for the day's activities. The apparatus traveled to the parking lots of West Chester University for judging. After the apparatus was judged, it was staged on West Nields Street for the parade to begin. The apparatus traveled through the parade route receiving several "thank you for your service" and "very nice looking" compliments from parade watchers. The parade ended at the Fame Fire Company on East Rosedale Avenue in West Chester as members from the Fame Fire Company, Goodwill Fire Company, and First West Chester Fire Company watched the parade.

Following the parade, the apparatus returned to the station while Thorndale Firefighters traveled to the West Chester Fire Department Training Center for the awards. Squad 38 received 2nd Place Most Functional and Appearing Non-Transport EMS Unit in the State of Pennsylvania.

A job well done to all the crews that helped prepare the apparatus for parade.

Thorndale's Fire Police were also hard at work for the day's festivities. Fire Police Lieutenant Ron Miller, who also serves as the President of the Chester County Fire Police Association, orchestrated the road closures and traffic control efforts for the parade as it traveled through the streets of West Chester. Fire Police Lieutenant Miller put countless hours into planning the closure points and staffing personnel over the past year.

Fire Police Captain Patrick Carmody took on the arduous task of handling fire police radio communications from the command post in the Incident Support Trailer (IST) trailer while Fire Police Lieutenant Miller handled fire police command from an ATV along the parade route. With over 100 Fire Police Officers on the streets of West Chester from fire companies across Chester County and a few from Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Fire Police Captain Carmody and Fire Police Lieutenant Miller were able to smoothly manage the traffic control around the parade route.

Under the direction of the Fire Police Captain Carmody and Fire Police Lieutenant Miller, Thorndale's Fire Police team including Fire Police Officers Sean Barron, Chuck Woolford, and Jerard Linnemann were able to work in unison with others to successfully manage the traffic in a very busy little town on a Saturday afternoon for several hours.

Congratulations to the Fame Fire Company on celebrating your 175th Anniversary and thank you for hosting the 134th Pennsylvania State Firemen's Association Convention and Parade. This marked the first time in the history of this convention that it was held in Chester County and it was a huge success.

Thank you to the Coatesville VA Fire Department for providing coverage to Caln Township while our apparatus attended the parade.