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ROSCOE, NY — On September 9, the quiet little town of Roscoe, known as “Trout Town, USA” for its fabulous fishing in the sparking clear waters of the Catskills, turned into “Parade Town, USA.”

Legions of volunteer firefighters marched down Main Street as part of the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Association’s (SCVFA) 94th annual parade.

It was hosted by the Roscoe Rockland Fire Department, which the previous day held a Mardi Gras parade, followed by bed races and a bucket brigade. 

There’s nothing like a parade honoring the folks who are on the front lines of protecting America, the volunteer firefighters, emergency medical corps and law enforcement, to bring out “Old Glory.”

Leading the parade was a color guard composed of representatives of branches of the United States military. Veterans marched in cadence behind the Stars and Stripes, which was proudly carried by a U.S Navy vet.

As the firefighters, ladies’ auxiliaries and EMS companies marched along Roscoe’s main drag, they passed beneath a huge American flag. It was suspended high overhead between the towers of serial apparatus, and in keeping with the theme of pride in the nation, most departments were led by their respective color guards displaying the country’s symbol of freedom.

Keith Travers, past department chief and current member of the Roscoe Rockland Fire District, explained that the Rockland Fire Department was founded in 1844, while the Roscoe Fire Department was established in 1905.

In 1997, the two fire districts merged, and in 2012, the two separate hose companies merged to create the Roscoe Rockland Fire Company under the united fire district.

“It’s a benefit to the community,” he said of the parade. “We’re showing off the town of Roscoe; we’re the most western town in the county… and we’re showing off our town and pride in our department.”

Travers called it a team effort “between our department, the ladies’ auxiliary and the ambulance corps.” 

Next year it is scheduled to be hosted by Roscoe’s neighbors, the Livingston Manor Volunteer Fire Department.

The SCVFA was established in 1926 “for the improvement of the Volunteer Fire Service in Sullivan County.” For more information about the organization, write the SCVFA at PO Box 189, Monticello, NY 12701-0189 or visit www.sullivanfirefighters.org. 

Guy Baker, chief of the Roscoe Rockland Fire Department, said of the parade. “We can’t thank our membership, community, local business and participants enough for making this year’s parade a huge success. We managed to avoid the forecasted bad weather and had a great weekend. Congratulations to the winners of the various categories, and we look forward to a great parade in Livingston Manor in 2024.”

As are many volunteer fire departments across the nation, Sullivan County is in dire need of folks willing to sign up to assist their communities in time of emergencies.

For more information about becoming a volunteer for fire or emergency medical service (EMS) squads, visit Join Sullivan Fire on Facebook at joinsullivanfire. 

Trophy winners in the 94th SCVFA parade 

In-county

Best Appearing Large Dress Company (1st Beaverkill Valley, 2nd White Sulphur Springs)

Best Appearing Small Dress Company (1st Grahamsville, 2nd Youngsville)

Best Appearing Large Regulation Company (1st Jeffersonville, 2nd Woodbourne)

Best Appearing Small Regulation Company (1st Hurleyville, 2nd Woodridge)

Best Appearing Company 9 & under (1st Bloomingburg, 2nd Wurtsboro)

Best Line of March (1st only Monticello)

Best Appearing Antique Non-Motorized (1st Livingston Manor, 2nd  Roscoe)

Best Appearing Antique Motorized (1st Woodbourne, 2nd White Lake)

Best Appearing Pumper under 6 months to 10 years (1st Neversink, 2nd Kauneonga Lake)

Best Appearing Pumper 11 to 19 Years (1st Rock Hill, 2nd Hurleyville)

Best Appearing Pumper 20 Years and Over (1st Swan Lake, 2nd White Sulphur Springs)

Best Appearing Tanker 6 months to 10 years(1st Grahamsville, 2nd Bloomingburg)

Best Appearing Tanker 11-plus Years (1st  Woodridge, 2nd White Lake)

Best Appearing Chief’s Vehicle (1st White Sulphur Springs, 2nd Fallsburg)

Best Appearing Rescue (1st Livingston Manor, 2nd Monticello)

Best Appearing Aerial (1st place only Youngsville)

Best Appearing Auxiliary Large Company (1st Livingston Manor, 2nd Monticello)

Best Appearing Auxiliary Small Company (1st Wurtsboro, 2nd Rock Hill)

Best Appearing Ambulance Corps (1st Upper Delaware, 2nd Lumberland)

Best Appearing Color Guard Firematic In County (1st Hurleyville, 2nd Kauneonga Lake)

Best Appearing Color Guard Non-Firematic (1st Roscoe VFW, 2nd New York State Police)

Best Appearing Musical Organization (1st Orange County Pipes & Drums, 2nd Broome County Pipes & Drums)

Out of county

Best Appearing Company (1st place only Mechanicstown)

Best Appearing Dress Company (1st Hancock, 2nd Bethpage)

Best Appearing Regulation Company (1st Mechanicstown, 2nd Cooks Falls)

Most In Line of March (1st only Mechanicstown)

Best Appearing Apparatus (1st Mechanicstown, 2nd Cooks Falls)

Farthest Traveled Company (1st place only Bethpage)

Best Appearing Color Guard (1st Mechanicstown, 2nd Cooks Falls)

Best Overall (1st place only)—Blue Ribbon (In County: Loch Sheldrake), Red Ribbon (Out of County: Port Jervis-Maghogomock)