Salem Volunteer Rescue Squad 90th Anniversary

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, the Salem Life Saving Crew, known today as the Salem Volunteer Rescue Squad, was established on November 15, 1932 by Lewis A. “Tootie” Ballard, Chief of Salem Fire Department and Minor Oakey, founder of Oakey’s Funeral home; and,

WHEREAS, the lifesaving crew for the town of Salem was patterned after the Roanoke Life Saving Crew organized in 1928 by Julian Stanley Wise; and,

WHEREAS, volunteers were recruited from the Salem Fire, Police, and Street Departments and the Leas & McVitty Tannery and met weekly on the second floor of the fire department; and,

WHEREAS, volunteers were trained in first aid and lifesaving techniques by members of the Roanoke Life Saving Crew, and they responded to every kind of emergency call from broken bones and critical illnesses to strangulation, heart attacks and accidents in cars, at home and in the workplace; and,

WHEREAS, Salem Life Saving Crew began in the back of a red sedan, later moved to the second floor of the fire department, and quickly accumulated enough equipment, supplies, and volunteers to warrant their first official space in a building adjacent to the fire house; and,

WHEREAS, this group of well-trained community servants responds to an average of 550 calls per year and serves the citizens of Salem at the Salem Fair, Olde Salem Days and other community events; and,

WHEREAS, Salem Volunteer Rescue Squad is commended for 90 years of service to the citizens of Salem, Virginia by providing the kind of community service that strengthens the Spirit of Virginia;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize the November 15, 2022 as the 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SALEM VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our residents.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations