HONORING HEROES
First Responder Day held at track
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Almost everyone has needed help from police, firefighters or rescue squad personnel at some point in their life.
As a sign of appreciation, the heroes who risk their lives daily were honored with special First Responder Day activities at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday.
Members of nearly a dozen local agencies were recognized in the Winner’s Circle after the second race, while track-goers also got to meet personnel and learn about equipment they use at Saratoga Pavilion, behind the grandstand.
“The most amazing people in America are nurses, police officers and firefighters,” racing fan Mike Fregeau said.
A Ballston Spa native, he’s currently a football coach at Bethel University in St. Paul, Mn.
Fregeau visited the racecourse with his brother, Henry, of Valley Forge, Pa.; and son-in-law Tim Anderson, originally from Chicago.
All three men have direct ties to a first responder of some sort.
“My brother-in-law, Wayne Riddle, ran with Berwyn Fire Company, near Philadelphia, as a
“The most amazing people in America are nurses, police officers and firefighters.”
youth, the same as his father, grandfather and greatgrandfather,” Henry Fregeau said.” Now he’s a flight nurse on an emergency medical helicopter for the University of Pennsylvania. If he’s in the air, that means he’s going to something bad.”
Anderson said his cousin, Ty Miller, is a “hotshot,” a forest ranger who fights forest fires all over the country.
“There have been some bad ones the past couple of years, so we think about him a lot,” Anderson said. “He puts his life on the line all the time. We’re pretty thankful for him.”
Agencies represented Wednesday were Saratoga Springs police and fire departments, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, state police, Mechanicville Police Department, Clifton Park-Halfmoon EMS, Albany Medical Center Hospital’s trauma program, Saratoga County Mental Health Center, and Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Cindy Dort is the Extension’s bike helmet educator, charged with teaching children and adults alike the importance of wearing a helmet when cycling.
“We’re all about both physical and mental safety for the residents of Saratoga County,” she said.
Monica D’Agostino, of the Mental Health Center, said, “I work with all these agencies every day. It’s nice to be in the same place together to get the message out, just making people aware that mental health exists in the county and there are services available for those who need them.”
Samantha Spagnola, a Clifton Park-Halfmoon paramedic, said it was helpful to meet personnel from other agencies on First Responder Day.
“It’s nice to get to spend some time together,” she said. “It’s refreshing.”
Like many area residents, Spagnola also visits the track with her family each summer.
Intermittent rains created wet conditions, but not enough to keep die-hard fans such Charlie Scriber away.
“The rain doesn’t bother me at all,” the Cambridge resident said. “I have a season pass and come almost every day. I like weekdays because there aren’t as many people.”
However, he’s learned from experience not to wager on steeplechase events such as Wednesday’s first race.
“I don’t like jump races because my horse always falls down,” Scriber joked.
Tom Kelly, of Scottsdale, Az., said the rain was welcome, as he’s used to living in the desert where temperatures reach 100 degrees regularly.
A Glens Falls native, he visits the track each summer.
“I like the food and fun atmosphere, and going to the paddock to watch the horses,” Kelly said. “It’s a beautiful place.”