It was standing room only at the Deborah Sampson meeting room in the Plympton Town House Monday morning as fire chiefs and personnel, family and friends came to witness the swearing in of Plympton’s first female fire chief, Cheryl Davis.
Davis addressed the group, saying she grew up a third generation firefighter using the fire trucks as her jungle gym and climbing the fire pole for fun. Fire fighting was not her first choice for profession, “maybe because I never saw anyone in the station that looked like me. Or maybe because at 8-years-old, the firefighters were larger than life Super Heroes.”
Cheryl gives lots of credit to her parents who encouraged and supported her throughout this journey. Her mother, who worked in the state correctional system when many felt women had no place working in a jail, told her daughter, “if the boys say you can’t do something, do it twice and do it better than they do!” She is a Super Hero … she earned her cape.
Over her 17 years with fire service, Cheryl thanked those who mentored her along the way. She especially thanked the members of the Fall River EMS where she spent part of her career. “I wouldn’t be half the paramedic I am today if it wasn’t for all the amazing people I had the opportunity to work with there.
She continued her thanks to her current co-workers for their outpouring of support and encouragement over the past several weeks. “I love the motivation, fresh ideas … the truth is, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you. There is no Plympton Fire if you guys don’t show up. 24/7 365 you guys step up an answer the call. You make it fun to come to work.”
To all the area Chiefs who have offered advice, guidance, and assistance, thank you… Lastly, to the town administrator and selectboard, thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity and helping me ensure that every little girl who tours the fire station gets to see someone who looks like them, and maybe one day, they too will find their capes.”