LONDONDERRY — Neil Baran had the ride of his life Wednesday morning when Londonderry senior firefighter George Calligandes picked him up at his home on Tokanel Drive and brought him to school on Engine No. 5.
When Calligandes pulled up to Neil's house, excited parents, grandparents and neighbors were waiting with video and still cameras to catch all the action.
Neil is a first-grader at South Londonderry Elementary School and his mom, Ann Gaffney, won the fire truck ride during a live auction held on April 12 to benefit the Londonderry High School Lancers Marching Band's trip to Beijing in June.
Calligandes, a community relations coordinator for the fire department, said that he was able to donate two "fire truck to school rides" and a CPR class for up to five people as auction items.
"The chief (Kevin MacCaffrie) was all for it," said Calligandes, who came in on his day off for the ride.
Gaffney said she paid $200 for the item and that it was well worth it.
"There are over 200 kids in the band going to China," she said. "It's less than a dollar a kid."
Gaffney, who rode the truck with Neil to school, is on a one-year sabbatical from her position as a math teacher at Londonderry Middle School. Her parents drove their car to South School to be part of the welcoming crew as Calligandes dropped Neil off at school. Neil's teacher, Katie Miers, was also outside waving as the truck entered the school driveway.
Calligandes made the trip worthwhile for Neil and his mom by taking "the scenic route" back up Gilcreast Road, down Route 102 to Kendall Pond Road. He presented Neil with a badge, plastic firefighter's hat and safety book.
MacCaffrie said he was happy to have the fire truck rides as part of the auction.
"It did two things," he said. "It helped the fundraiser and gave us an opportunity to give back to the students. It's also a good educational opportunity for the student and his family to have one-on-one time with a firefighter."
Neil was grinning from ear to ear during the ride and chatted with his mom about the equipment in the 1,000 gallon pumper truck.
After Neil and Calligandes gave each other a high five at South School, Calligandes asked him if he would like to be a firefighter someday.
"No," Neil responded with all the honesty of a first-grader. "I want to be a policeman."
