When the Peachtree

City Fire Department took delivery of a new fire

truck, Fire Chief Gerald Reed wasn't on hand to

enjoy that "new-car" thrill that even

seasoned firefighters relish.

He is currently a

resident at the American Cancer Society

Wynn-Dixie Hope Lodge in Decatur while in

treatment for cancer at Emory University

Hospital. So the fire department - career

employees and volunteers - took the engine

to the chief. About 30 firefighters and spouses

prepared a meal of ham, barbecued pork, fried

chicken, green bean and other vegetable

casserole, even red wine, and, using the city's

recreation department van, convoyed with the

truck to Emory.

There they showed

off their gleaming new truck to patients and

staff - and Reed. "Show and tell"

was followed by lunch for everybody. Department

secretary Maxine Barbour said that probably 100

people were fed; more than 70 were patients and

their care givers. Food was provided in part or

in whole by Harris Teeter, Publix and Kroger food

stores, and by Partners II Pizza restaurant and

Cafe Pig, she said.

Firefighters cooked

most of it in the Hope Lodge kitchen.

Reed received a

bone marrow transplant last month and is being

closely monitored. So far, reports are

optimistic, but he has lost weight, hair and

muscle tone and faces an extended recovery.

"It really lifted him," said veteran

fire Capt. Tom Hughey, referring to the visit.

"I think he really enjoyed himself."

Hughey added that

Lt. Ron Mundy and Frank Murphy of Entertainment

Productions Inc. should be credited with

initiating and coordinating the enterprise. In a

brief telephone interview, Reed confirmed

Hughey's appraisal, adding that all the patients

seemed to appreciate the visit and the close-up

look at a state-of-the-art pumper.

Hope Lodge accepts

cancer patients from any Atlanta hospital whose

homes are too far away for them to return daily

for required treatment or monitoring, said Mary

Malone, a volunteer staffing the facility's

telephone. "We provide housing free of

charge, and patients can stay as long as they are

going through treatment," she said.

Most meals are

brought in or prepared by patients' care givers,

usually family members staying with them, but

several times a week organizations like churches

and civic groups - or fire departments

- provide meals.

Greetings will

reach Reed at the following address: Chief Gerald

Reed, 1552 Shoup Court - Room 102, Decatur,

Ga. 30033.

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