by Breeanna Jent on 2013-12-04
Every Thanksgiving morning, after longtime Grand Terrace resident Debra Hurst puts the turkey in the oven for the afternoon's family feast, she purchases a Thanksgiving Day feast from Stater Bros, which she then drops off at Grand Terrace's Fire Station 2 — and that's her tradition.
Hurst has been carrying on this family tradition, which her late husband Stephen began in the late 1990s, in honor of her husband's memory.
"My late husband's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving," she said. "That was his holiday."
Stephen got to know the firefighters at Station 23 over time. Having worked at the Department of Housing, he was required to park the state vehicle he drove for work at a government facility — and the fire station was the closest to their home.
"He got to know the guys there and he talked with them," said Hurst.
Knowing that firefighters would always be scheduled, even on a holiday, Stephen took it upon himself to make sure they had a feast of their own to enjoy.
"After he would get up here at home and put our turkey in, he'd go down to Stater Bros. and buy a turkey," said Hurst. "He'd drop it off at the station and hang out for a while with the guys before coming back home."
Stephen passed away in August 2003 and to carry on her husband's memory, Hurst has continued to purchase the feast and donate it each Thanksgiving Day to Fire Station 23.
She said this Thanksgiving, she knew of three firefighters who were scheduled at the station for the holiday.
The Thanksgiving Day feast she purchased from Stater Bros includes turkey and all the fixings, she explained, from pies to rolls to mashed potatoes to green beans.
"I'll also usually buy a salad with some toppings and some dressings and maybe some soda to take over there, too," said Hurst.
"For [Stephen], it was his holiday. For me, this is a way to continue this holiday for him. We also want to recognize the firefighters and all they do. As government service workers, they don't get the day off. It's hard when you have family at home to be gone on a holiday. They're very involved in the community, with their ride through Grand Terrace, and selling Christmas trees and the pancake breakfast they do. They participate in a lot in our little city and I just want to show appreciation to these guys."