A night of fellowship is planned for some local heroes who deserve it.

On May 22, the Kinston/Lenoir County Emergency Services banquet will be held at the Kinston Community Center. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m., and the banquet will begin at 7. The event provides a night of fellowship and entertainment. The cost is $10 at the door and dress is casual. All current and retired Lenoir County First Responders and their families are encouraged to attend.

Lenoir County Fire Marshal Dustin Burkett said he looks forward to the annual event held as an opportunity for active and retired first responders to connect with each other and share experiences.

“My favorite part is when the old guys get to share their stories, and the younger ones get to learn from them,” he said. “It’s a good time for everyone to get together and enjoy the camaraderie.”

MSG (Ret.) Mike Reynolds, the keynote speaker for this year’s banquet, said it’s an opportunity to see old friends. Reynolds is an 18-year veteran who spent almost four years as the flight medic for the 4th CST/WMD at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Atlanta.

In 2009, while deployed in Iraq, Reynolds sustained a traumatic brain injury. After years of cognitive, speech, vocational, physical and rehabilitation therapy, Reynolds refused to give up. Though his injury ended one career, Reynolds has found a new calling in farming.

The event is billed as a night filled with great stories and entertainment. While awards and recognition will be given out, it will also be a night of remembrance, where active and retired first responders can honor the fallen and those that came before them.