The Tulsa Fire Department is unveiling a special tribute to firefighters to celebrate 125 years of service. Youโll see firefighters wearing a new badge, one to commemorate the anniversary.
The Tulsa Fire Department is proud to present the commemorative 125-year badge. The Tulsa Fire Museum Badge Committee worked on the badge design, but Lieutenant Craig Deerinwater was the artist behind the badge and came up with the symbols and details.
โI think you can see it has the helmet on top, cross bugles, and just kind of recognizes everything that is fire department related,โ said Deerinwater, who has done many drawings, paintings and sculptures.
The Tulsa Fire Department started on June 6, 1900. When we look back, we think of all the men and women that worked in the Tulsa area that have made great strides in technology. We have come a long, long way in 125 years,โ said Public Information Officer Andy Little.
He says the department went from horses and buggies to motorized vehicles. The badge pays tribute to the years of service and sacrifice.
Little and Deerinwater are both hopeful that the badges, which will be worn for a year, will stimulate conversation. They want citizens to ask about them. They also want the badges to mean something to the men and women who currently serve.
โAs I look on my future, I probably have less than 4 years left [before retirement], so to get to be a part of that tradition of the fire department and just give back to the future, you know, the younger ones that are coming up, so they can carry it on,โ said Deerinwater.
The badges are silver and gold. Traditionally, only chief-ranked personnel wear badges with gold. This badge is the exception. The fire department has received the first shipment of badges, and more are on the way.
