CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin Fire Company held its annual awards banquet Jan. 10, celebrating 2025 service and recognizing members and supporters for their contributions. The evening program included a catered meal, formal presentations and a year-in-review video produced by Sgt. Connor Adams.
Company leaders thanked Fannettsburg Inn for catering, Eric Patterson of Power Company Entertainment for event support and West End Fire Department and Saxton Fire Department for standing by to cover calls during the banquet. A remembrance segment honored members who died in 2025 and acknowledged their decades of dedication to the community.
The President’s Award for 2025 went to Norma and Barb Danklemann, sisters of longtime member Robert “Dank” Danklemann, recognizing their continued support of the company and their brother’s legacy. A dedicated area inside the fire station was established in Danklemann’s honor to commemorate his service since 1970 and his impact on generations of volunteers.
Deb Hollenshead also received special recognition for sustained advocacy and support for the fire company and the broader community it serves. Company officials noted that such behind-the-scenes efforts help sustain recruitment, fund raising and public outreach throughout the year.
Perry Goetz received the Station 4 award for his contributions at the company’s substation. Payden Leonard was named Firefighter of the Year, with Robert Kozicki recognized as runner-up for his performance in training and incident response.
Fire Chief Mark Trace presented the Fire Chief’s Award to Matthew Bigler for leadership and reliability throughout the year. Payden Miller earned the Top Responder award, while Steve Ocker was named Fire Policeman of the Year for his work in traffic and scene safety.
Junior Member of the Year honors went to Jaylen Milsaps, reflecting strong participation and growth among the company’s younger members. Rookie of the Year was awarded to Frank Barrientos, highlighting his commitment during his first year with the department.
The company reported 993 total runs in 2025, including 59 working structure fires, eight vehicle extractions and 64 medical assists. These calls spanned Chambersburg Borough and surrounding townships, often requiring support from mutual-aid partners.
The top 15 responders for 2025 were Payden Miller, Dylan Panfili, Justin Verdier, Mark Trace, David Olson, Frank Barrientos, Matthew Bigler, Gabriel Reineman, Mathan Riley, Robert Kozicki, Connor Adams, Curtis Bryan, Payden Leonard and Justin Preisler. Special recognition for Fire Police service went to Josh Pogue, Steve Ocker, Kevin Kramer, Max Bower, John DiStefano, Brian Oliver, Jill Oliver, James Monskie, Zachary High and Dakota Goshorn.
During the memorial portion of the program, the company honored members who died in 2025: Robert Danklemann, David Cooper, Dennis Cump, Gary Negley, Gary Gelsinger, Charles Keefer Jr., James Umbrell and Rodney Ordway. Their names were read aloud as members and families reflected on their decades of service and sacrifice.
Leaders said the company’s mission continues to be shaped by the dedication of past members, whose work helped build the department’s reputation for professionalism and community service. The newly dedicated station space for Danklemann was presented as a visible reminder of that legacy for current and future volunteers.
