The night before the biggest day of the year for local volunteer firefighters, fire trucks are cleaned until they nearly sparkle and dress uniforms are pressed. When the big day comes, firefighters take to the streets of Sussex County in procession as hundreds of onlookers cheer in appreciation.
That big day - some firefighters jokingly call it “Christmas” - occurred Saturday under a rain-free sky with just a slight chill in the air as the 99th annual Sussex County Firemen’s Association Inspection Day and Parade stepped off. For the 16th time, Franklin was host to the event, which included members from all 26 departments in the county, and even some beyond.
The parade started in front of the Franklin fire department at 1 p.m., beginning with a convoy of antique cars carrying local dignitaries led by firefighters marching in uniform, with a single member often repeating the words “left, left, left, right, left!”