VCU recognizes university and community efforts during fire with appreciation breakfast

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Front from left: Eugene P. Trani, VCU president, Larry R. Tunstall, Richmond fire chief and director of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and L. Douglas Wilder, distinguished professor in VCU's Center for Public Policy, share a few words during the Appreciation Breakfast.
Front from left: Eugene P. Trani, VCU president, Larry R. Tunstall, Richmond fire chief and director of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and L. Douglas Wilder, distinguished professor in VCU's Center for Public Policy, share a few words during the Appreciation Breakfast.

Photos by Allen Jones, VCU Creative Services

Evidence of the March 26 fire at 933 West Broad Street - Richmond's largest fire in the last 100 years - may be fading as repairs and new construction are completed. However, thankfulness for the efforts of hundreds of community and university people who came together to fight the fire and help with recovery was very much in the forefront at a recent appreciation breakfast at Virginia Commonwealth University.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani expressed the university's gratitude for what he called a tremendous collaborative effort during and after the fire. Members of the university community joined police, fire and emergency services representatives from the City of Richmond, and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover and Charles City at the breakfast. Richmond city officials spoke for all present, including City Manager Calvin D. Jamison, Richmond City Councilman William Pantele and Richmond fire chief and director of Fire and Emergency Services, Larry R. Tunstall. Barbara Abernathy, a Carver Community resident and head of the Carver Area Civic Improvement League also shared with the crowd her appreciation toward VCU and those present for their assistance in aiding Carver, the neighborhood close to VCU's Monroe Park Campus that suffered damages as a result of the fire.

From left Capt. Carlton Edwards of the VCU Police, Richmond Police Maj. David M. McCoy and VCU Police Chief Willie B. Fuller greet one another before the start of the breakfast.
From left Capt. Carlton Edwards of the VCU Police, Richmond Police Maj. David M. McCoy and VCU Police Chief Willie B. Fuller greet one another before the start of the breakfast.
 Christopher Aycock, a firefighter with Richmond's Department of Fire and Emergency Services, was one of the many individuals who contributed his rescue efforts during the fire.

Photos by Allen Jones, VCU Creative Services
Christopher Aycock, a firefighter with Richmond's Department of Fire and Emergency Services, was one of the many individuals who contributed his rescue efforts during the fire. Photos by Allen Jones, VCU Creative Services