THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412230267
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 155 lines
WHILE MOST OF us open gifts, sip eggnog and relax by the fire, there are other souls who have to keep the wheels of civilization grinding.
The fireman, the emergency room nurse and the cop are just a few among a small legion of workers who must remain at their posts while we share Christmas Day with our loved ones.
Their reasons for working are varied. For some, it's part of the job. For others it's a matter of drawing straws or of seniority. But for many, it involves self-sacrifice, preferring to give rather than receive.
Here are a few Chesapeake residents who are spending their Christmas in the service of others.
Christmas Day is a 24-hour shift for Fire Chief Henry Deal at Station 2 in South Norfolk.
``It is the longest day of the year,'' he said. ``You want to get home to your family, but you can't. The hours just creep by.''
Work schedules at the firehouse are done by shifts, planned 12 months in advance. Most firefighters must remain in the station, but some are lucky enough to have their co-workers relieve them for an hour or two so they can be with their loved ones. Others have their relatives come to the firehouse for Christmas dinner.
``Families and nearby residents will cook us meals and bring us cookies and cakes to try to get us in the spirit,'' said Deal. ``Being in the station all day does get a little boring.''
Although Deal admits it's sometimes a little tough to miss Christmas, it's part of an occupation he wouldn't trade for any other.
``The job is very rewarding, Christmas and any other day,'' he said. ``In years past, we've had fires on Christmas. We have to be ready.''
Though not quite as critical as manning the firehouse, someone has to man the gas pumps on Christmas Day, too. One of those people is Willie Barlow of Frank's Trucking Center near Bowers Hill.
``We're always open on Christmas,'' said Barlow. ``There are a lot of people on the road that day, and it works out pretty well for us.''
Barlow and his father and brothers run the family-owned operation, which includes a full-service truck center, a restaurant and convenience store. Barlow usually volunteers to work Christmas and takes off New Year's Eve.
Because Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, there are even fewer service stations open than usual.
``If these truckers break down, there's no place else for them to go,'' explained Barlow. ``We have to be here for the guys who are keeping us in business.''
In some businesses, Christmas is a busy day. For Mark Pickrel, general manager of Movies 10 in Western Branch, working the holidays is a requirement in his field.
``I have no life on Christmas Day,'' he joked. ``We're usually quite busy in the afternoon and evening.''
Pickrel, who is not married, gives the day off to his assistants, most of whom have families. He and other singles hold down the fort.
``For most people, Christmas is a happy time, but for those who are alone, it can be depressing. The theater is a good place for them to come and escape,'' he said. ``We have our Santa outfits on and are extra jolly for people who have no one to share Christmas with.''
Another industry that always remains open on Christmas is the hotel trade.
Dwayne McKenney, manager of the Hampton Inn in Greenbrier, took the day off on Thanksgiving, but is working all day on Christmas.
``I'm not a family man now, so I give most of my employees with families the day off,'' said McKenney. ``It's a very slow day, and I can get caught up on my administrative work.''
Most of his guests on Christmas Day are from out of town, in Chesapeake to visit friends and relatives, McKenney said.
He said that is happy to provide a service and doesn't mind putting in the time. But he hopes he doesn't have to do it forever: ``I feel good about working on Christmas, but I hope I have someone to do it for me when I get married and have kids.''
It's a terrible thought, but people do have to go to the hospital on Christmas. When it happens, there is arguably no more valued worker than the emergency room nurse.
Helen Fulp, a registered nurse at Chesapeake General Hospital, will work from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. She will celebrate the day with her husband and stepdaughter in the evening.
``We're fully staffed on Christmas,'' she said. ``It's usually slow in the morning but picks up in the afternoon.''
Fulp was originally scheduled to have Christmas off, but picked up the shift for a co-worker who has a young son.
``It doesn't bother me,'' she explained. ``You get used to working holidays in this business, plus it gives me a chance to give that little extra attention to the patients. I feel the same about Christmas as any other day. Somebody has to be here.''
The druggist is another vital link in the health-care chain.
Rae Carol Works is a pharmacist at the Revco drug store in Great Bridge. Works, 23, graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond last year, so this is the first Christmas she has ever had to be on the job.
``It's going to be strange. Among the three pharmacists at the store, the `new girl' got stuck with working,'' said Works, laughing. ``But I'm trying to take the attitude that, if I have to work, at least I'm helping people.''
When you discover you're missing an ingredient for Christmas Day dinner, what do you do? Run to the nearest convenience store, of course. But not many remain open on Christmas Day. One that does is the 7-Eleven store at 900 Providence Road.
``We were very busy last year,'' said an employee, who did not wish to be named, in accordance with corporate policy. ``Our customers really appreciate us being open.''
The worker said that she took off Thanksgiving Day and volunteered for the Christmas duty.
``As the manager, I wanted to look out for the store. I would have preferred a half day, but it's not that bad,'' she explained. ``I will celebrate with my family on Christmas Eve.''
If there's ever a time to try to forget about trouble and crime, it's Christmas, but the day is not immune to problems.
For police officers Dennis Hurst, Paul Dodge and Michael Scott Smith of the fourth precinct in Western Branch, working during the holidays is just part of the job.
``Crime doesn't stop on Christmas,'' said Hurst, who has been on the Chesapeake police force for 2 1/2 years. ``There are often a lot of break-ins and, of course, DUIs.''
Dodge noted that the police are especially needed during the holidays.
``Unfortunately there are a lot of domestic problems on Christmas afternoon. It usually results from too much drinking,'' he said.
Hurst and Dodge, who both have families, said it is difficult being away from home on the holiday. They plan to celebrate the day in the late evening.
``Yeah, it's always hard to be away from the family on Christmas, but they know it's part of being a police officer,'' said Hurst. ``It's important to have a supportive wife and family.''
As with the fire department, schedules are often set a year in advance. Seniority can play a role in determining who gets the day off. But station supervisors can make allowances, and there are patrolmen who volunteer to work so others can be off.
Smith is single and one of those officers who doesn't mind picking up a holiday shift.
``Working on Christmas doesn't bother me a bit,'' he said. ``It's no problem to work for the guys who have families. I'm more than happy to do my job.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
[color cover photo. no credit or cutline information available.]
Hotel manager Dwayne McKenney gave most of his employees the day
off.
Brothers Gary, left, and Willie Barlow keep Frank's Trucking Center
open.
Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Manager Mark Pickrel works Christmas Day, a busy time for Movies 10
at Chesapeake Square Mall.
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Police officers, from left, Michael Smith, J.T. Fisher and Dennis
Hurst will be on duty.
by CNB