Guests at yesterday's open house check out an old county ambulance that is now used to train rescue squad crew members. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Training to save more lives

New training center opened by the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad named for benefactor

BY ROB HEDELT

Date published: 11/23/2009

BY ROB HEDELT

Tom Vickers and Carolyn Marsh remember the old days, when Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad members didn't have any real space for training.

"We used to pull the units out of the station, mop the floors and put down throw rugs to get space for training," said Vickers, an officer of the squad. "We'd have three different classes happening on top of each other."

Yesterday, with their major benefactor on hand to clip an opening ribbon, the rescue squad officially dedicated a building whose main purpose is training.

It's not a new building, but the former rescue squad building at Spotsylvania Courthouse, now with a totally redone interior designed for emergency medical training.

The squad now operates out of a new joint fire and rescue station on Courthouse Commons Boulevard.

The training center dedicated yesterday has three large classrooms equipped with all the screens, computers and audiovisual connections needed for classes that will include CPR, Emergency Medical Technician certification, advanced lifesaving and other topics.

Marsh, president of the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, said the group is extremely grateful to Arvel P. Shannon, whose continuing donation to the rescue squad made the work possible.

"We've set it aside for several years, with this purpose in mind," said Marsh, who noted that the work cost some $300,000 and took about six months to complete. "Her gracious gift continues and will allow us to do the training we are constantly doing to keep members up to date."

Shannon is the widow of local businessman Sidney Shannon Jr., who owned and operated the Sheraton Hotel and founded Shannon Airport.

As she prepared to officially open the new Arvel P. Shannon Training Center named for her, Shannon said she's proud to be associated with it.

"It feels good to help, especially with something as important to the community as this organization," she said, adding that constant training is an important duty of the squad.

Doug Found, who oversees training for the squad, said it's hard to explain how much easier it will be to offer classes in rooms set up for them.

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Date published: 11/23/2009