August 7, 2026 – Allenton, Wi – The Allenton Volunteer Fire Department marked a new tradition this week, recognizing three members who completed their probationary service and officially became active members during the department’s first Promotional Pinning Ceremony.
The ceremony honored the commitment and dedication required to serve in an all-volunteer fire and EMS department while giving family members the opportunity to play a special role in the milestone.
The three members recognized included:
- AEMT Amy Pichler, who was pinned by her husband, Dave.
- Firefighter Peyton Roemer, who was pinned by his brother, Ryan, who is also serving with the department and is currently completing his own probationary period.
- EMT Emma Melville, who was pinned by her mother, Shelly.
The ceremony is the first of its kind for the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department after Chief John Breuer formed a committee to develop a formal recognition program similar to those used by neighboring departments.
“We just started that this year,” said Breuer. “I put a committee together at our annual meeting. We call it pinning and promotion to recognize the time and dedication these individuals are putting in.”
Breuer said every new member serves a one-year probationary period before becoming an active member. The new ceremony formally recognizes that accomplishment while also providing a framework to celebrate future promotions and retirements.
“So when they come off probation and they’re officially accepted as an active member, they’re not probationary members anymore,” he said. “If we have a firefighter that would move up to lieutenant or captain or deputy chief or chief’s position, we do the same thing at that interval. And when members officially retire from active service, they’ll also be recognized.”
The ceremony also gives firefighters and EMTs the opportunity to invite family members or close friends to pin on their new badge.
“The main reason is the amount of time that’s required for training and continuing education to stay proficient with their skills,” Breuer said. “Being a volunteer agency, these individuals put in an incredible amount of time.”
Each honoree chooses the person who pins on their new badge, making the ceremony especially meaningful for families.
“It gives the family a chance to come down and meet some of the other firefighters and EMTs,” said Breuer. “We give them a tour of the station and our equipment. A lot of that is for the family too.”
While volunteer recruitment has become a challenge for departments across Wisconsin, Breuer said Allenton has worked hard to create an environment where people want to stay involved.
“We’ve got a great crew, actually, but we’re like everybody else. We could use more,” he said.
The department has maintained approximately 43 active members for the past five to six years while also building one of the area’s strongest cadet programs with 13 cadets currently on the roster.
Breuer credits much of that stability to creating a dedicated culture that extends beyond emergency calls.
“It’s really like a close-knit second family,” he said.
That family atmosphere is reinforced through department breakfasts, picnics, community events and now the new pinning ceremonies that recognize the sacrifices volunteers and their families make.
Unlike many departments that operate on a paid-on-call model, the Allenton Volunteer Fire Department remains a strictly all-volunteer department. Members receive only a small stipend when they sign up to ensure EMS coverage, allowing the department to maintain ambulance crews around the clock.
Breuer said volunteer departments throughout the region continue to recruit new members.
“When I joined over 41 years ago… there were times we maxed out,” he said.
For Allenton, the inaugural pinning ceremony represents more than a new tradition. It is another way to recognize the dedication of volunteers while strengthening the family atmosphere that has helped keep the department thriving.
The Allenton Volunteer Fire Department congratulates AEMT Amy Pichler, Firefighter Peyton Roemer and EMT Emma Melville on completing their probationary service and becoming active members of the department.
