Below is an article as it appeared in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 

By Paula J. Owen CORRESPONDENT 

ASHBURNHAM— Members of the Ashburnham Fire Department and Firefighters’ Association received a government award yesterday for getting a fully equipped ambulance donated to people in Afghanistan.

Military personnel, town and state officials gathered outside Town Hall for the ceremony before moving indoors when a thunderstorm started.

The Seven Seals Award is signed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas Hall and reads: “For meritorious leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve."

It was presented by David G. St. Germain, program support specialist from the Massachusetts Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

As part of the ceremony, the fire and police chiefs and Selectman Jonathan M. Dennehy also signed a statement as a gesture of support for any guard or reserve member in their departments.

Mr. St. Germain said he is constantly seeking out support from almost 5,000 employers for the state’s 15,000 guard and reserve members.

He said that when he asked the police and fire chiefs in Ashburnham to sign the statement of support, he found out about the ambulance to Afghanistan project.

"I discovered that the Ashburnham Firefighters Association, in the true traditions of the firefighting community, were simply doing what they do best — assisting people in trouble,” he said.

The measure will go further than supplying a much-needed safe, reliable way to get Afghan people in need of emergency medical care to a medical facility, said state Rep. Robert L. Rice Jr., D-Gardner.

He said part of winning the battle in a country where fighting is taking place is winning the hearts and minds of the people in that country. He said sending the ambulance to the Farah province in western Afghanistan will go a long way toward accomplishing that.

Ashburnham Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Capt. Dennis Driscoll said the project’s impact will go beyond Farah and will reach into Iraq and Pakistan.

"Other people will follow what you have done,” he said. “You will never realize the massive impact this will have on families and lives."

The ambulance to Afghanistan project was driven by Fire Chief Paul Zbikowski.

Town Administrator Kevin E. Paicos served for almost a year at a base in Farah as a medic in the National Guard Special Forces and recognized the need.

He said he had seen injured children brought in for medical treatment in a wheelbarrow and asked if the chief could get them an ambulance.

Chief Zbikowski and the Ashburnham Firefighters’ Association put out a call throughout the state to get an ambulance to donate to Afghanistan.

Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty and Concord Fire Chief Kenneth R. Willette received some of the e-mails.

Chief Daugherty’s son, a staff sergeant in the Air Force, had served in Afghanistan in 2002, and Chief Willette had lost a nephew who was serving in the Army in Iraq.

Chief Daugherty said the 23 cities in his fire district voted to donate the 1985 ambulance with 30,000 miles on it, along with some supplies.

"When you hear some of the stories of the people over there, especially the civilians, you just want to be able to help them out,” Chief Daugherty said before the ceremony. “Some of the civilians are casualties of the situation. They didn’t cause this — especially the children."

Chief Daugherty’s daughter, Shawn M. Daugherty, worked as a staff assistant in U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s office in Washington , D.C. , and asked if the senator could help with pushing the paperwork through, he said.

Months later, fire departments and associations and other wishing to help from all over the state have donated supplies and money for the project, Chief Zbikowski said.

Mr. Paicos said the firefighters involved were “angels sent to work among us” and it was perfectly logical that they would be there to help the people in need in Afghanistan, because firefighters are the ones who are always there to help. "

If you need help, they will be there,” he said. “They are the ones that will always come for you.”