Washington School Pays Tribute to Firefighter
Unbeknownst to members of the Washington Primary School community, the building has long had a neighbor who strongly believed in the value of community service. Huntington Manor firefighter Richard Holst lived right across the street on Whitson Road.
Mr. Holst passed away suddenly last week after collapsing at the scene of a pre-dawn fire on Depot Road that he himself called in while walking home from another blaze. He was the chief chaplain of the state’s fire chaplain’s association and served in the local department for more than three decades.
On Monday, two large hook and ladder trucks stopped on either side of Whitson Road and raised their ladders far into the sky. Firefighters then strung a huge American flag between the ladders a few feet from Mr. Holst’s home.
Washington School third graders who wanted to pay tribute to Mr. Holst and his service to the community were invited to do so as a large procession of fire and police department vehicles along with numerous busloads of mourners drove down Whitson Road beneath the gigantic flag.
Washington students, teachers and school aides stood on the sidewalk along the road with Principal Marsha Neville. Many of the firefighters waved to the students and it was obvious the youngster’s gesture was deeply appreciated.
“I am so proud of our students,” Mrs. Neville said. “It was a wonderful gesture on their part.”
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office