On March 27th, Fire Station 20 gathered again for their fourth reunion in Buellton, California at the Firestone Brewery. This would have been the fifth one but because of Covid, we could not have it one year. There were about 40 people who attended this reunion. Some stayed at the Flying Flags RV resort and some just came up for the night. After cocktails and dinner, several came back to our campsite for good ole stories by the fire pit.
I started this reunion because the group I worked with while I was assigned at 20s has a very close bond. As you know, there are those stations where you just had the best of times. For me, they were Fire Station 4, 14 and 20. I spent nineteen years as an A/O at Fire Station 20. Many of the members worked at 20s anywhere from 15 to 25 years. We saw people come and go but the meat of all three shifts stayed together. At one time, the Captains there had over 100 years of combined service, the A/Os had over 90 years of service, and the Engineers had over 100 years of service. We grew up with one another. We saw our kids grow up and some of us have seen our sons join the LAFD. We have seen each other go through good and tough times. Even as Captain Pete was getting through his cancer, this group gathered to bring him and Besty a smile and to let them know we remembered them. Now, as we reunite, we tell stories of the past as if it was yesterday. We laugh and cry, we rejoice in our time together. During the dinner we take time to remember the fallen who have left us: Captain John Peterson, Eng. Pete Goff, Captain Tom Rohrbach, Captain Brent Hogue, Captain Lane Kemper, Captain David Mooreman, and Captain John Nuttman.
I would like to thank the members and family who attended this year’s reunion and made the trip up to Buellton. I hope, if there is a fifth reunion, that we exceed the numbers next year. For those who could not make it this year, maybe the next one. Also, if anyone reading this has worked at Fire Station 20 and would like to attend the next reunion, send me your email address so we can have it on our list. You can send it to me at etofav@verizon.net.
Retired A/O Ed Tapia