The Old Saybrook Fire Department (OSFD) is gearing up for a celebration. Departments from around the state will take to Main Street on Saturday, Aug. 24 for a parade to honor the department’s 100 years of service.

The parade will start at 4 p.m. at the head of Main Street and end at the OSFD headquarters at 310 Main Street. In addition to members of the OSFD, the parade will feature fire departments from around the state displaying different firefighting equipment. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be held the next day, Sunday, Aug. 25.

Tony Cronin, the fire company secretary, said trophies would be handed out to individual companies that participate in the parade.

“The parade will feature a reviewing stand on Main Street near our fire headquarters with local dignitaries as well as officials from the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association who will be reviewing all of the parade apparatus in the parade as well as the marching unit and firefighters and then awarding numerous trophies to those participating fire departments and their members.”

Cronin said 24 trophies will be awarded in categories ranging from best overall unit to best appearing antique motorized equipment.

According to a press release, The Old Saybrook Fire Company No. 1 was founded as a volunteer organization in 1924. The department had one fire engine, which was donated by Finley J. Shepard, a former resident of Old Saybrook. A 33-member all-volunteer crew served the town of 1,500 people.

A century later, the department now boasts 80 volunteer members.

“We’re also very proud to have two grand marshals featured and honored in our centennial parade: Edmund Yeager, who is our longest serving veteran member with 51 years of service to our all-volunteer fire department as well as Past Chief Wayne Wysocki, our longest serving active member with 49 years of service,” Cronin said.

Chief of Department Joseph Johnson said in a statement, “We’re very proud of our 100 years of dedicated service to the town of Old Saybrook and surrounding communities and we want to celebrate this momentous anniversary with a very public and very celebratory parade down Main Street.”

For more information, visit oldsaybrookfire.com.