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(A gallery of photos follows the story below. The photos were submitted by Bill Billings.)

The eighth annual First Responders Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 23, served as the latest chapter in a continuing tribute to those who serve the public in the Franklin-Southampton County area.

The dinner was organized jointly by the Rotary Club of Franklin, the Charles R. Younts American Legion Post No. 73 and the American Legion Post No. 73 Ladies Auxiliary.

Held at the American Legion’s hall on Armory Drive in Franklin, the dinner, which included a steak, potato, rolls and salad, was served to around 106 people who opted to eat in at the hall. Most of those individuals were first responders, and about 20 were volunteers from the American Legion and Rotary. 

The dinner also had a takeout option, which served around 165 first responders.

Dinner organizer and Rotarian Lauren Harper noted that the following agencies were served by the dinner: Boykins Volunteer Fire Department, Branchville Volunteer Fire Department, Capron Volunteer Fire Department, Courtland Volunteer Fire Department, Courtland Volunteer Rescue Squad, Drewryville Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin Fire and Rescue, Franklin Police Department, Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department, Ivor Volunteer Fire Department, Ivor Volunteer Rescue Squad, Newsoms Volunteer Fire Department, Sedley Volunteer Fire Department, Southampton County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police.

Harper was highly pleased with how the dinner went overall.

“Honestly, it was great,” she said. “I think everybody enjoyed the fellowship, and we are so blessed to have very kind sponsors that enjoy contributing to that every year. So it was a good event.” 

The platinum sponsor of the 2025 First Responders Dinner was Solenis.

The silver sponsors included Barnes, Brock, Cornwell and Painter PLC; Bronco Federal Credit Union; Burgess & Co. PLC; Kaufman and Canoles; Primis Bank; Railey and Railey Law Firm PLC; Randall & Bruch PC; Saunders & Ojeda PC; Bon Secours – Southampton Medical Center; Summit Design and Engineering Services; The Bank of Southside Virginia; The Village at Woods Edge; and TowneBank.

Harper said the sponsors contribute either food or money toward the dinner.

Highlighted the purpose of the dinner, she said, “The Rotary motto is ‘Service Above Self,’ so this is our opportunity to serve those who serve us daily.”

In addition to the Rotarians who volunteered to help put on the dinner, Harper highlighted the contributions of local American Legion Post and Auxiliary members.

“They’re the ones that prepare their hall for us, and they help serve, they help cook, they provide the beverages, plates and cups and all those things and then also participate in getting everything packed up and serving the folks that eat in,” she said. “So we surely couldn’t do it without them.”

She explained the order of the day for volunteers on Jan. 23.

“It’s food prep and packing the takeouts, getting them out the door, and then we serve the eat-in guests,” she said.

She noted that volunteers try to have the takeout meals ready by 5 to 5:30 p.m. so they can be picked up and enjoyed by first responders at a reasonable time.