CAMDEN — If there was a guest of honor at the Camden Fire Department and Atlantic Engine Company No. 2 annual summer cookout, held Aug. 8 at the home of Bob Oxton, it was Harold Drinkwater, who has served as a firefighter in Camden for 60 years.

Saturday’s get-together was also an opportunity to recognize and thank four other firefighters for their service, but Drinkwater’s tenure stands head and shoulders above the others.

Drinkwater joined the fire department in 1955, and in addition to serving as a firefighter, he served as assistant chief for 20 years. After retiring from that role in 2003, Drinkwater continued to serve as fire police, assisting with traffic at fire and accident scenes big and small. Drinkwater is one of the department’s first responders when the call comes across the radio, and he responds in his personal vehicle to the closest intersection and keeps traffic at bay to allow fire engines, ambulances and other emergency responders easy access to their jobs. It’s a job he still does today, and plans to do for at least a few more years.

Drinkwater’s decades of service were recognized by his fellow firefighters and their families, and also by some of the state’s highest office holders, including Gov. Paul LePage and Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King. The Maine 127th Legislature also sent along a letter commending and recognizing Drinkwater, as did Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. Retired Camden firefighter John French, who is currently serving as chairman of the Camden Select Board, also presented Drinkwater with a letter from the town and its citizens, thanking him for his decades of continuous dedication and service.

Along with her letter, Sen. Collins sent an American flag that she said in a letter to Drinkwater had been flown over the Capitol building in Drinkwater’s honor.

“Harold is here at the station almost every day for coffee and breakfast in the morning,” said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. “He gets along with everybody here, and he does a lot to encourage new recruits’ involvement, and give the new guys support.”

The longest service member of the Camden Fire Department was Charles Dailey, who served for 62 years, from 1912 through 1974. Drinkwater hopes to meet, and surpass that record.

“I hope to get at least three years more,” said Drinkwater. “I’m gonna make it.”

Farley on Saturday also recognized Dot Drinkwater, Harold’s wife, for the role she and other spouses and family members regularly play in supporting firefighters who drop everything to answer a call for help.

Also recognized at the cookout was firefighter Tom Bland, who has been a member of AEC2 and the Camden Fire Department for 40 years, and John French Jr., a member for 30 years. The department also recognized firefighter Bob Stiehler for his five years of service, and Farley called out the efforts of firefighter Andrew Lowe, who has been with the company since 1993, when he was still in high school with his brother, Patrick, also a firefighter working in Rockland.

Farley said that for the past two years, Lowe has run Firefighter I and II programs for the Knox County Fire Training Academy.

“Andrew has trained five of our last newest members to the Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels, and it’s taken a lot of his time, outside of his regular work and personal schedule to do that,” said Farley. “We want to recognize him and his family, including his wife, Kim, and their daughter, Morgan, for giving up the time he could have been spending home with them.”

The Camden Fire Department, as well as all Maine fire departments, are always in need of firefighters to join their ranks. Male or female, young and young-at-heart, there’s something that everyone can do to assist and serve their local communities in times of need and strife. Call your local fire department or stop by Camden Fire station during business hours for more information on joining.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 706-6655.