American Legion Post 49 brings needed donations to Carter County fire departments
Published 2:25 pm Friday, February 21, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Members of the American Legion Post 49 prepare to load a 26-foot U-Haul with donated firefighting equipment after the 10-hour drive to Itasca, Illinois. Pictured from left to right are: John Bennett (Watauga Post 49), Jim Baldwin (Watauga Unit 49 Auxiliary), Jimmy Darley (Darley president/CEO), Paulette Baldwin (Watauga Post 49), and Tom Plummer (Darley associate).
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent American Legion Post 49 Commander Paulette Baldwin speaks with one of Carter County's local firefighters during the donation of supplies to the local Carter County fire departments.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Carter County firefighter Wendell Loving is all smiles as he shows off one of the axes that was donated.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Local Carter County firefighters pause while going through the boxes of donations that will provide needed resources to various Carter County fire departments.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Local Carter County firefighter David Howland (West Carter FD) shows off a new "pike pole" that came in with this week's donations.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
American Legion Post 49 in Elizabethton has partnered with other American Legion posts and fire departments in the New Lenox, Illinois, area.
“The donation originally started with our relationship with Post 1977 in New Lenox. We began that relationship as a result of Hurricane Helene. Service officer Mark Razny from Post 1977 contacted me with the news that several fire departments in the New Lenox area had equipment they wanted to donate,” local American Legion Commander Paulette Baldwin shared.
“Tom Plummer, who is employed at the W.S. Darley Factory, a fire equipment supplier, was key in bringing these donations to our area,” Baldwin shared.
Initially, a truckload came down from Illinois and brought a load to the Elk Mills Volunteer Fire Department in Poga, but after more items continued to be donated, Paulette and two other members from Post 49, hearing about the donated items continuing to pour in, rented a 26-foot U-Haul and made the 10-hour drive to Itasca, Illinois, to pick up the items and return them to Carter County.
This week, six fire departments from Carter County, including Elizabethton, Watauga, Roan Mountain, Hampton, West Carter, and Stoney Creek, gathered to pick up the much-needed items.
The total of the donated items was estimated at over $200,000 and included such items as hazmat suits, fire hoses, hose fittings, axes, fire hooks, boots, gloves, and vests.
Elizabethton Fire Department Chief Barry Carrier expressed gratitude for the donated items. “Those items are going to help Carter County a lot. Those items are needed and very expensive. It’s a wonderful thing the American Legion has done,” Carrier exclaimed.
