Volunteer Spotlight: Gregory Eddy

Name: Gregory Eddy
Title: Training Officer
Department Name: Rock City Falls Volunteer Fire Department
Location: Rock City Falls, NY

Why are you an NVFC member?
I feel it is crucial for individuals in our line of service to be integrated, communicating, and up-to-date with the rest of our community and learn from one another to better ourselves, our fellow firefighters and volunteers, our community, and our departments. NVFC allows us to outreach, communicate, and keep up to date with new ideals, culture changes, information, and training we can use to project to other personnel and our community to create a better environment and organization to save lives and prevent injury and death.

Why are you a volunteer firefighter?
I became a volunteer after the loss of my paternal grandfather who passed of a cardiac arrest in which I was able to see the EMS and Fire responders performing CPR, Advanced medical care, and subsequent transport as well as their professionalism and follow up with us after his loss. Coming from a family rooted in the emergency services – whether it be my maternal grandfather who was a New York State Trooper and Town Judge for his career, cousins and family in the fire services and law enforcement, and a tight knit community who supported our family’s local businesses – I learned the importance of family and community early in life and felt community services was a fitting choice after being inspired from the responders I witnessed the day I lost my paternal grandfather.

After becoming a volunteer I thrived and excelled in instruction, development of training, and mentoring of other volunteers of all ages and experience levels and found becoming a volunteer was a calling that chose me and not vice versa.

How long have you been in the fire service?
14 years

* Interested in serving your community? Find volunteer fire service opportunities at www.MakeMeAFirefighter.org.