By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
Members of the Miller’s Ferry Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary are planning a scholarship in honor of Justin Monroe.
Monroe, 19, was a long-time member of the Miller’s Ferry Fire Department who died March 7 while working with the Salisbury Fire Department.
The Justin Monroe Memorial Scholarship Fund will go to a member of Miller’s Ferry’s junior firefighters.
“We did this out of respect for Justin and his mom and dad so he can continue to fight fires,” said Stacy Erb, a member of Miller’s Ferry’s ladies auxiliary.
She said members of the auxiliary kicked off the scholarship earlier this week with a $500 donation. They’ll be accepting donations to add to the scholarship.
“It’s a small community,” Erb said. “Everyone knows one another. I know a lot of people want to honor Justin.”
The purpose of the scholarship is to allow young firefighters to further their educations in fire services. Erb noted that there are several local schools ó community colleges, primarily ó that have fire education programs.
She said the scholarship will be presented to an outstanding member of Miller’s Ferry’s junior firefighters (there are 15 at the moment) who is graduating high school. If there are no graduates in a particular year, the scholarship will be rolled over to the following year.
Erb said that in addition to accepting contributions from the community, the scholarship fund will be grown through fire department events like yard sales and Brunswick stew sales.
“We feel we can made a dent in their tuitions,” Erb said of the young firefighters who are looking to pursue careers in fire education.
In addition to Monroe, Salisbury Firefighter Victor Isler died in the March 7 fire at Salisbury Millwork.
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Interested in making a donation? Send checks to: Justin Monroe Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Miller’s Ferry Fire Department, 2650 Long Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC 28146.- – –
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.