And boy, was it active … and very successful. The team won 15 titles from 1993 to 2013.

Founded in 1932, several months after the III Olympic Winter Games, the Panthers drill team began competing against squads across northern New York. From May to the end of September, team members traveled every weekend for events.

But the Panthers disbanded five years ago. Members were more interested in other activities. Plus, the ranks of the fire department have been dwindling over time; there simply aren’t the numbers for a drill team. Sadly, this is a trend across northern New York, where more than a dozen drill teams used to compete. No longer. There are a few teams in western New York, but most of the action is on Long Island.

Sports are popular, and the firematic races are extremely exciting. Perhaps reestablishing a drill team and promoting it to entice younger residents to volunteer could work, not just in Lake Placid, but across the state in rural towns.

Perhaps the Panthers could be restarted to attract new department members. It’s an important part of our heritage.