Darlene Denstorff
The Advocate
Copyright 2007 Capital City Press
All Rights Reserved
GONZALES, La. — Sorrento Fire Chief Mike Lambert fought back tears as he talked about the role his parents and grandmother had in his career successes.
Lambert, speaking at the opening banquet of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association Conference on April 12, dedicated the weeklong conference in memory of the parents, Reynolds and Diane Lambert, and grandmother, Muriel Reeder, “who played such an important role in my life” and stressed hard work and community service.
Accepting the dedication plaque for Lambert’s parents were his sisters, Kathleen Lambert Scott and Susan Lambert, and Sonya Reeder, Lambert’s aunt, accepted on behalf of his grandmother.
“Talking about my parents and what they meant to me was hard, but they are the ones who made me what I am today and I wanted to show my gratitude by dedicating the conference in their memory,” Lambert said after the ceremony.
As outgoing president of the association, Lambert hosted more than 150 chiefs from across the state during the conference, which started April 10 with pre-conference educational sessions.
The conference, at the Gonzales Holiday Inn and Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, included seminars, a golf tournament, trade show, food festival and “lots of opportunity to share ideas,” Lambert said.
Wearing his formal chief’s uniform, Lambert also paid tribute to retired Sorrento Volunteer Fire Department Chief J.J. “Mac” Phillips.
Lambert explained that Phillips never “had a real badge” during his tenure as chief from 1982 to 1993 and presented the retired chief with a gold chief’s badge.
“Now, don’t you stick me,” Phillips said as his wife and Lambert tried to pin the badge on his shirt.
The banquet remembered the service of former Geismar Fire Chief Richard Wilson, who died in February, and Erath Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Alton Barras Erath, who died last year.
Volunteers with the Sorrento Fire Department rang a bell three times in memory of the two longtime volunteer firefighters and placed red roses on a white cross of flowers sitting near the bell.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Charles Melancon, D-Napoleonville, talked about legislation to fund reconstruction in areas devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He said the money is tied to a measure that would pull troops out of Iraq.
Melancon said he hopes the Democrats and Republicans in Congress will reach a compromise with President Bush to fund $7.2 billion in projects, loans and levee construction.
The legislation would allow governmental agencies affected by the two hurricanes to obtain money for construction projects without having to repay the loans or provide cost-shares and matching funds, he said.
“The cost-shares have always been forgiven in other disasters, why not in these?” Melancon said.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, talked to the firefighters Saturday.
For the first time in the history of the conference, Lambert said, the chiefs got a chance to attend educational sessions before it started. The conference also had near record attendance.
“We had more sessions and a larger variety of educational classes this year, and many people told me they were pleased we did that,” he said.