One of World War II’s most famed Army aviators, Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, said, “nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”

Very few things spoken have ever been more true.

That is why the recent grant provided to the Summerville Volunteer Fire Department is such an exciting development.

Now, this department can use funds to not only help retain, but also recruit new volunteer fire fighters.

For Dallas County, and every other county in Alabama, the service provided by volunteer fire departments is priceless. These neighbors protect our homes, our businesses and our land. They save lives and save property. They are, in many cases, our heroes.

That is why we applaud both the application and awarding of this grant to one of our own.

With escalating fuel costs and insurance costs, very rarely is the money departments are provided by local governments enough to properly pay for equipment, training and supplies.

Money generated from grant applications, fundraisers and donations are crucial to ensuring these departments continue to operate at a level that provides an expected level of service.

These men and women volunteer for these departments not for notoriety, but for the simple pleasure of helping their neighbor.

They don’t join these departments and give up precious time with family to get rich, but rather to provide a service to their community, their area, that others choose not to do.

We can never thank the men and women of the local volunteer fire departments enough. What we can do is applaud them when they are awarded grants such as the one Summerfield recently received and support them through donations and fundraisers when they call on us to help.