By TAYLOR BROWN
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With more than 8,000 fire calls under his belt, Charleroi firefighter Robert Whiten Sr. does not plan to slow down anytime soon.
On Wednesday, he was begrudgingly brought to the Charleroi borough council meeting without knowing why his attendance was so important.
Curious as to why the room was packed full of residents, family and firefighters, he quietly sat down without asking too many questions.
After council President Mark Alterici called roll, he introduced a special guest, Washington County Commissioner Vice Chairman Larry Maggi, who had a surprise up his sleeve — and a special certificate in hand.
“We always hear about the bad things in town and we rarely get to hear about the people who are doing great things, who spend their life serving the community,” Alterici said, before announcing for the first time to Whiten Sr. that council and the county would be recognizing him for more than 57 years of service with the Charleroi Volunteer Fire Department.
“That’s the look I was waiting for,” Alterici laughed. “So you know, most of the firefighters weren’t in on this, but Sylvia and your son were, so we kept it under wraps.”
With tears in his eyes, Whiten Sr. calmly removed his jacket and made his way to meet Maggi at the front of council chambers as residents in the audience stood to applaud him.
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See the video from the meeting on our website at www.monvalleyindependent.com