The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted the eighth Annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, welcoming 400 businesses and first responders. For the first time in the event’s history, the Chamber introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor exceptional contributions in the field.
Retired Fredericksburg Fire Department Chief Eddie Allen presented the award to current Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones.
Jones began his fire service career in 1979 with the Falmouth Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He excelled in training and became a key member of the team. Mike followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a firefighter for Fairfax County.
His commitment to excellence saw him rise through the ranks from Lieutenant in 1987 to achieving his dream of becoming Fire Chief in March 2020, a challenging time marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played a crucial role in public outreach, recording daily updates to inform and reassure the community during a difficult time.
Throughout his career, Jones has been dedicated to community service and building strong relationships with civic organizations, state agencies, and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, where he has been a member for over 38 years. He has also been a mentor, preparing others for leadership roles and actively participating in community programs like Leadership Fredericksburg.
Said Kevin Dillard, Chair of the Chamber Board: “Serving as chair of the annual First Responders event provided me the opportunity to do some research whereby I discovered that our organization had never honored a first responder for a lifetime of service in the Commonwealth. I strongly believe that the men and women who have served for many years, whether as volunteers or career first responders, deserve recognition for their many years of public service.
“I have known Chief Jones personally for decades. He has served in both volunteer and career capacities for over 40 years. As a leader who steps forward to set examples for others, is a humble public servant, and has continually earned the gratitude and respect of our community, I am most pleased that he has now been recognized for his lifetime of work that has vastly improved the fire and EMS profession within our region.”
