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| Tom Rechtin’s restored 1940 Ahrens-Fox fire truck will be featured in the Opening Day Parade. |
For a majority of the United States of
America, Easter is widely considered the major springtime holiday.
That’s not the case for the Greater Cincinnati Area. We have two
major spring holidays: Easter and Opening Day.
The Cincinnati Reds Opening Day is
filled with traditions as old as the game of baseball itself. One of
those traditions is the annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.
Whether you’re conveniently going to be “sick” today from work to
attend the parade yourself or will be tuning in on local tv stations,
keep a lookout for #FTMFamily member Tom Rechtin Heating & Air Conditioning along the parade route.
Tom Rechtin Heating & Air
Conditioning has been participating in the Opening Day Parade for the
last 14 years. When owner Tom Rechtin Sr. first applied to be in the
parade over a decade ago, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to mix
work and play. “I was a season ticket holder at the time, and I was
very much interested in the Reds, and the parade, and the exposure we
would get as a company. It was also another way to support the
program,” said Rechtin.
Over the years, Rechtin has enjoyed the
energy surrounding the Opening Day Parade. “I like all the hustle
and bustle of getting ready for it,” said Rechtin. “It’s fun to see everybody getting ready for the parade, and finding out
how many people you know are also in the parade. It’s kinda nice to be a Northern Kentuckian participating in the Cincinnati Reds parade.”
For Rechtin, preparing for the parade
means making sure his vintage fire truck and flatbed truck are ready
to cruise the parade route. “The fire truck is a 1940 model
Ahrens-Fox fire truck, which was made in Cincinnati, and was the
second hired fire truck that the city of Bellevue owned. I had
particular interest in it because I was a volunteer fireman myself
when I was 16-years old, and I drove in the truck many times. It has
a real special place in my heart. I had the opportunity to buy it,
and when I did, we restored it, and it looks like new today,” said
Rechtin.
The Dodge flatbed truck is also a restored vehicle from the
1940s, and is often used in other local parades as a unique platform for
advertising.
The Opening Day Parade is also a chance
for Rechtin to give back to the community. He raffles off a ride in
the parade for an annual Holly Hills Children’s Home fundraiser. “We put
the truck in there for people to bid for a ride for the parade. We’ll
have 4 to 6 people in it. Generally, it’s a family. I think this year
we have a couple of grandparents and grandchildren,” said Rechtin.
The parade has been a family affair for Rechtin as well. His own
children and grandchildren have participated in the event alongside
him over the years.
If Rechtin’s hopeful predictions are
correct, Opening Day will kick off a memorable season for the Reds.
“They’re going to do great,” said Rechtin. “They’re going to do
lots better than people think. Good group, young group. They’re going
to do great.”
