including the Bucket Brigade , Hose Relay , and Wild Hose . The Gravette team won quite a few of those events , he added .
Orr says that the best thing about the first responders in Gravette is the strong camaraderie found not only among fire department personnel , but also between the Gravette fire and police departments . He said that although the departments are competitive , they are like family .
Orr was introduced to firefighting by a family member who was a member of Highfill Fire Department , and began his career at the age of 16 through Highfill ’ s Junior Firefighter Program . He joined the Gravette Fire Department as a volunteer when he was 19 years old . Prior to being appointed interim fire chief , Orr served as fire captain and the director of Emergency Medical Services . In 2019 , he was appointed Gravette ’ s fire chief . He stated that he is glad to have the opportunity to work at a job that he loves , and grateful that the community allows him to serve at the Gravette Fire Department .
He graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College with a paramedic degree , and is a champion for education . He enjoys teaching and noted that he
and other members of the Gravette Fire Department hold instructor certifications and have provided training for a number of local fire departments . Orr stated that he is proud that the Gravette Fire Department offers the Junior Firefighter Program , and emphasized that participating students must maintain good grades and exhibit good citizenship .
The morning of Sept . 11 , 2001 , Orr was at the fire station when the World Trade Center towers fell . He said that in that moment he felt he needed to do something to pay respect , so he pulled the fire trucks out onto the apron , turned on their lights and saluted for a full minute . This simple act of respect has grown into an annual observance at the Gravette Fire Department .
Orr and his wife Cassandra have five children , ranging in age from 9 to 22 years old . In his free time , he enjoys hunting and spending time with his family .
The Gravette Day Parade will begin at noon Saturday , Aug . 10 , at Kindley Park . The parade route will be Charlotte S . E . to Highway 59 , then to Main Street and Sixth S . E ., and back to Charlotte S . E .
David Orr photos courtesy Billy Wade Gravette fire chief David Orr is the parade marshal for the 2024 Gravette Day parade . He has been chief since 2019 .
GRAVETTE DAYS 2024
MONEY DROP
Join in the fun …
Immediately after the parade , Legacy National Bank will drop 500 + ping pong balls on Main Street in front of the bank . Some balls are blank , but some are marked with REAL CASH PRIZES !
Anyone can participate … When the balls drop , just grab those around you-- and if you ’ re lucky enough to find prize balls-- you can exchange them for CASH , on the spot , just inside the bank foyer !
SATURDAY , AUGUST 10 , 2024 3 Gravette Day