INGALLS — COVID-19 restrictions might have forced the cancellation of a youngster’s birthday party plans, but they couldn’t stop his parade.
And Ingalls fire and police departments were good to add their own touches to the celebration, too.
Melissa Rusler reached out to the fire department, via Facebook, to see if it could add a little extra to her grandson Charlie’s revised birthday celebration.
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Rusler said they normally rent out a building to host the festive event for her grandson’s birthday with a number of his school friends. That couldn’t happen this year. Building owners informed them that because of current restrictions on large group gatherings, the facility was unavailable.
“We decided we were going to have a birthday parade instead of a party,” Rusler said.
From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, with the birthday boy and family in the front yard, friends drove through the neighborhood, honking horns and communicating from a safe distance.
Charlie got an extra special surprise when the Ingalls fire and police departments joined in. The fire department brought a fire engine and battalion vehicle.
“We didn’t tell him the fire trucks were coming. (Their horn) startled him at first, but he was really excited. He loves fire trucks and the Ingalls police,” Rusler said.
The fire and police departments have been helping out the community in uncommon ways during the pandemic.
On Friday, the fire department delivered groceries and supplies to an elderly resident, Fire Chief Seth Smith said.
“I’ve had my crews go out to see if anyone needed assistance, and we’ve had a handful of takers,” Smith said. “They’re all pretty happy about it, and it limits their exposure (to the public).”
Smith said the pleasure is felt on both sides.
“It definitely makes us feel great, too,” he said. “We can’t do too much with this going on as far as interacting with the community. This helps keep people safe and happy at home.”
Including a 6-year boy, who got an extra special surprise on his birthday.
“He was more than thrilled by the engine,” Smith said. “It made his day, and that’s what it’s all about.”