Bill Halstead was honored by the Board of Fire Commissioners at the conclusion of the board’s meeting on March 23.

Mr Halstead, who serves as chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company and is also the town’s fire marshal, celebrated his 50th anniversary as a firefighter in January. Once the business meeting was finished Monday night, the commissioners surprised Mr Halstead with the honor.

Commissioner Kevin Cragin spoke on behalf of the board.

“We wanted to recognize your milestone,” he said to Mr Halstead. “You own it. Sometimes we can make new friends and new memories, but we can’t make old friends and old enemies. All the service and all the commitment you’ve given to this department, you earned it and you own it.

“In addition to Sandy Hook, obviously you’ve been a big factor to the Town of Newtown,” Mr Cragin continued.

The commissioners purchased an award made up of a flag box, with an American flag inside the glass-topped wooden box and a plaque on the lower front.

“Newtown has a couple of symbols,” Mr Cragin said as he and Commission Chair Rob Manna began unwrapping the award.

“One of the symbols of the Town of Newtown is the American flag. We have a flagpole sitting in the middle of Maine Street,” Mr Cragin continued, unveiling the flag box before handing it to Mr Manna, who read the inscription on the plaque: “Chief Bill Halstead / On behalf of all the citizens of Newtown, past and present; in recognition, appreciation, and respect of your 50 years of tireless and dedicated service to the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company and the Town of Newtown / The Board of Fire Commissioners — January 18, 2015.”

The Board of Fire Commission meets on the fourth Monday of each month, at alternating firehouses in town. Mr Cragin explained that the board had opted to wait until March, when the commissioners were meeting at Sandy Hook’s main station, for its presentation to Mr Halstead.

With Sandy Hook firefighters taking a break from a training drill to join the commissioners for the brief presentation, Mr Cragin said he “appreciated the training session taking a couple minute break here because, on behalf of the Board of Fire Commissioners, we wanted to recognize Chief Halstead’s 50 years of volunteer service to the department.

“We are aware that your anniversary was in January,” Mr Cragin said, turning to look toward Mr Halstead, “but we wanted to recognize it with your department.”

Bill Halstead volunteered to be a firefighter on January 18, 1965, the day he turned 16. He has been the company’s chief since 1978.

Prior to Monday’s meeting, Rob Manna said he and the board were proud to recognize Mr Halstead for 50 years of service.

“It’s inspirational for the fire service in Newtown,” Mr Manna told The Newtown Bee. “We’re lucky to have such a dedicated individual. Not many men put in 50 years of service.”