PORTLAND – Though the Lifetime Achievement award given at this year’s Maine State Federation of Firefighters’ annual conference went to Gerald Keisman of Fryeburg for his 71 years of firefighting service, Vinalhaven’s Clarence ‘Cap’ Conway received a standing ovation of his own.

Conway officially retired from the Vinalhaven department in July with 64 years of service under his belt. Yet, as any career firefighter will say, once the smoke gets in the blood, it circulates forever.

Representatives from all 16 counties gathered along Congress Street in Portland, Saturday, Sept. 22, for the Federation’s annual parade. Cap, Murial, and Jean Conway, along with Eliot Scott, of Owls Head, represented Knox County.

Waldo County continued to honor the Twin Towers with a memorial float, and trucks belonging to Woolwich and Bath stood proud.

The 2019 MSFF conference and parade will take place in Fryeburg, according to Scott. For 2020, MSFF is eyeing Waldoboro.

See our previous articles:

Vinalhaven’s Cap Conway retires after 64 years of knocking down fires

Vinalhaven’s ‘Cap’ Conway recognizes past, future of fire departments