Carl Schell, a a longtime member of the Vera Cruz Fire Company, was honored recently with a memorial erected in his honor at the Vera Cruz fire station, with several family members looking on. Schell joined the fire company in November 1955, at the age of 24. He died in November 2017.

Vera Cruz Fire Chief Joseph Sherman called for Schell’s sons, Craig and Chris, to removed the tarp to unveil the memorial.

“The tarp is from the hose bed of the engine on which Carl took his final call for the fire service,” Sherman said.

During his 62 years of service, Schell held the position of fire chief, assistant fire chief, president, vice president, driver and assisted Santa Claus for the organization. In 2013, he accepted the position of station chaplain, which he held until his death.

Sherman said the memorial also recognizes “all the people, past and present, who made this fire station possible.”