PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PINNING … Lukas Campbell’s daughter pins his badge during the Wauseon Fire Department pinning ceremony held Monday afternoon.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Wauseon Fire Department held a formal badge pinning ceremony Monday afternoon, February 2, at 4:30 p.m., just prior to the regular Wauseon City Council meeting.
Family members, city officials, and fellow firefighters gathered at city hall to recognize firefighter Lukas Campbell and to take part in traditions the department has worked to restore and formalize over the past year.
Fire Chief Phil Kessler explained that pinning ceremonies have long been part of fire service culture, serving as a public acknowledgment of new responsibilities and commitment.
For many years, however, Wauseon did not have a structured version of that tradition due to its history as an all-volunteer department.
As staffing has shifted toward a full-time model over the last decade, department leadership began looking for ways to bring those customs back in a meaningful way.
That effort led to the creation of the ceremony now being used. Chief Kessler said the department developed the program internally about a year ago after realizing there was no formal moment to mark important milestones in a firefighter’s career.
Since then, the department has held approximately seven or eight ceremonies, including both appointments and promotions, each one providing an opportunity for families and the community to share in the occasion.
One element that sets the Wauseon ceremony apart is the presentation of an American flag to the firefighter being honored.
The chief said the idea came from research into how other departments recognize their members, particularly a program used by a department in Colorado.
Local officials adapted that concept to fit Wauseon, believing it would underscore the seriousness of the profession and the daily responsibility carried by those who serve.
During Monday’s event, a department designee read a prepared message reflecting on the history and traditions of the fire service and on the bond shared among firefighters.
Campbell was then presented with the flag he will raise at the station on his next shift, a symbol that will remain with him throughout his career with the department.
The ceremony concluded with Campbell taking the oath of office and receiving his badge from a family member, in this case his daughter, a moment Chief Kessler said represents the partnership between firefighters and the loved ones who support them.
He added that opening the ceremony to the public strengthens the connection between the department and the community it protects.