Fire department teams tend to become very close. They often live together and share life-and-death situations side by side. So when a firefighter retires, this is a meaningful and profound event that should be shared with those who care the most. A firefighter's retirement party is a special event that should be planned accordingly. Some do it their entire lives, some retire after a few years of harrowing service, and we want to honor them all.
If you are in charge of planning the retirement party or ceremony for retiring firefighters, you know that you seek to achieve a unique mix of lighthearted celebration and solemn respect for their life-saving service. Here at DIY Awards, we are often asked what the best award might be for a retiring firefighter and thought we might share a few meaningful pointers for those about to plan a firefighter's retirement party this year.
1) Invite the Whole Team
First, let's be absolutely clear. As award craters, we can tell you that no matter how meaningful the gift is, it's the people at a retirement party that make it meaningful. So bring everyone. Invite not just your retiring colleague's current crew, but also their friends, family, and even previously retired firefighters they've worked with in the past. The retirement party should celebrate every phase of life that your retiree spent with the department.
2) Decorate with Memories and Thank-Yous
Fire-themed decorations are fun, and lots of people enjoy going wild with red, orange, and yellow streamers, banners, tablecloths, centerpieces, and cool flame-shaped mylar balloons. Absolutely go all-out if that's what your retiree would find delightful, but don't forget the meaningful decor as well.
Amongst the toy fire engines and decorated ladders, hand every annual team photo your retiree has been in. Include candid shots of them and their firefighting buddies through the years and show how they've grown in the job. If your retiree received a collection of hand-written thank you cards or hand-drawn pictures from those they rescued, try to include these in beautiful frames and mosaics as part of the decor.
3) Dinner vs Party, Know Your Audience
Some retirement parties are a catered dinner at a local restaurant, and some are a raucous party in the station house with a catering table that is loaded with firefighter-themed treats. Know your audience as to whether you choose to plan a catered dinner or a bash that is more likely to erupt into dancing and raunchy jokes. Some retirees will prefer the dignity of a dinner, and some would prefer to go out laughing and drinking with their good buddies one last time with a bash to remember them by.
If you're not sure, ask your retiree or, if you want it to be a surprise, ask their buddies.
4) There Must Be Cake, Lots of Cake
Of course, every retirement party needs a cake. This is your opportunity to choose a fun and creative way to represent the firefighting profession through confection. Cake and icing can be molded into a fire truck, a helmet, a big boot, or a three-story firehouse. We've even seen cakes that look like well-weathered fire jackets or wrapped hoses. Use your knowledge of the retiree to pick a cake design that will delight them.
Don't forget to make sure to choose a cake big enough to feed the whole party two or three times over. Firefighters tend to be high-energy people and are notoriously hungry. Especially at parties and saying goodbye to a favorite colleague.
5) Firefighter Themed Treats
Don't stop your confectionery at the cake, however, there are tons of great fire fighter themed treats that you can load up on the catering table for a lively self-serve party. You can make firetruck cookies "flame topped" cupcakes, or dress your punch pitcher up as a fire hydrant. You can make chocolate helmets on dowels, dipped dalmatians, or even use fire-colored fruits for a healthy twist on the flaming theme.
You can also get creative with non-sweets, like stop-drop-and-Wraps, Pretzel match sticks, lil' smokies in blankets.
6) Pre-Arrange Speeches and Toasts
If there will be drinks and toasting (there will be), then make sure to plan it ahead of time. Put together a party itinerary for activities and catering, then talk to a few key people about giving planned toasts to the retiring firefighter who is being honored. Ask their close friends, colleagues, and perhaps a relative or two to toast their career and wish them well in their next choice in career or hobby.
Unplanned toast can get chaotic, but you should also leave a few spots open for spontaneous toasting, just in case team members feel inspired to share something meaningful in the moment.
7) Prepare a Meaningful Gift
Leave your retiring firefighter with something beautiful to remember their service by. Some plaque the helmet, some put together a photo album or create a memorial shadow box. We love these ideas, but for a touch of formality and eternal elegance, a crystal award can also say it all. Crystal awards are best given by the department, showing not just appreciation but also respect. While friends and family pour out their love for your retiree, a crystal plaque shows that the department deeply appreciates the time, effort, and dedication shared by the person retiring.
Include their name, the years they served, and the rank they achieved in their years of service. You may include a special symbol representing your department or a few details that are unique to the person. Every award should be unique. Choosing a crystal plaque also allows you to ensure each person who retires from your fire department feels equally appreciated, but without losing their identity and special service to the tradition.
8) Send Everyone Home with a Memory
Lastly, send everyone home with something to remember their retiring colleague and friend by. Party favors are not always a theme at retirement parties, but we think they should be. The special memory might be mugs with their colleagues' favorite quotes on each one or a framed photo of their last team picture together. Whatever you choose, a firefighter's retirement is sure to be a meaningful one when you have planned carefully with the department, team, and retiree's personal styles and preferences in mind. Contact us today if you are ready to craft a beautiful plaque to commemorate your retiring firefighter's honorable years of service.
