THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, July 5, 2019 Page 9 Virginia Ruane Recalls Her Firefighter Father By Virginia Ruane I thank you for this great honor! I am delighted to be here. I wondered why I was selected. After much thought I remembered that not only was my father a firefighter, but so was my husband. So I guess I qualify! Both are gone, but not forgotten. Nor are any of the firefighters of yesterday and today. Such a legacy has been passed on from that generation to us of today. My father loved his job, but at the age of about 55, he was hurt at a fire in the Maplewood Section of Malden. He fell down a flight of stairs and had to take his retirement. He did not want to, but he had to. My husband, on the other hand, also loved his job, loved the men he worked with, had to retire, but for another reason – his age: 65 years old. And he had to go. Both men were dedicated to the Malden Fire Department. I am very proud of them. So as I stand here, I guess I belong. There have been many changes from the days of old – one big one is women have been added to the Fire Department, and I believe it is a good decision. In the days of old, men had to wear uniforms to work and they looked handsome. The only place I have seen them now is in parades. In my father’s day, to leave the city even on your day off, you had to get permission from Headquarters (the Central Fire Station). My father’s father lived in Cambridge – on his day off, he had to get permission to go visit his father there. He accepted all the rules. Another big change: When VIRGINIA | SEE PAGE 16 S ONIC Drive-In recently recognized incredible teachers and the contributions they make to education as a part of its Limeades for Learning initiative in partnership with nonprofit partner DonorChoose. org. With the goal of helping teachers obtain much-needed classroom supplies and learning resources, SONIC launched a donation match in honor of Teacher Appreciation Month and gave one teacher in Malden, Mass., $487. In total, SONIC donated $1.2 million matching donations made to SONIC Teacher projects in May. As a result, SONIC rewarded one entrepreneurial teacher lead project at one school in the Malden community, Katie Carter at the Linden School, for the project “ “SONIC fans who love teachers responded incredibly during Teacher Appreciation Month and we were delighted to support 3,937 teachers and their students across the country,” said SONIC VP of Public Relations Christi Woodworth. “Each year, teachers spend hundreds of their own dollars to support their students, and with Limeades for Learning, SONIC and our fans made that burden a bit lighter. We celebrate and thank teachers for the incredible work they do to bring learning to life in creative and fun ways for their students.” SONIC provides essential funds needed for learning maVirginia Ruane Malden teacher receives $487 donation from SONIC Drive-In terials and innovative techniques for teachers to inspire creativity and learning through Limeades for Learning, the brand’s national award-winning cause marketing campaign. Since 2009, SONIC has donated $13.1 million, supported 33,177 classrooms and provided necessary learning materials and teaching resources requested by teachers to impact 995,310 students in partnership with DonorChoose.org. While Teacher Appreciation Month is celebrated in May, SONIC supports teachers year-round. Visit LimeadesforLearning.com for updates on contributions, future donation matches and how to get involved, and explore public school teacher projects in the Malden community in need of support. Teachers can become SONIC Teachers and submit projects through nonprofit partner DonorsChoose.org for a chance to receive funding. WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
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