During the week of July 20 to July 25, the Church of the Holy Eucharist played host to the 27th annual Pine Barrens Festival.
The festival is the largest event the church hosts and is an opportunity for area residents to come out and celebrate the culture of the New Jersey Pine Barrens with great food, live entertainment, games and amusement park rides.
However, the festival is not all carnival games and carousels. It supports a good cause and also honors a “volunteer of the year” each night from the different Pinelands towns — Medford, Chatsworth/Woodland, Medford Lakes, Vincentown/Southampton, Shamong/Indian Mills and Tabernacle.
The award is given to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the culture and history of the Pine Barrens.
“It’s been a tradition long before I became the pastor,” Pastor Andrew Jamieson said. “We contact each township and ask them to nominate a great volunteer or a particularly special individual.”
This year’s winner for the Shamong/Indian Mills area was Paul Miller of the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company.
“I received a call from the township administrator letting me know of the news,” Miller said. “I was honored by it.”
The Indian Mills Fire Company was incorporated by Shamong Township after a public meeting was held at the Indian Mills School auditorium in 1942.
The first building was a 24-by-24 cinder block building, and the township paid 18 cents for each cinder block. It was constructed in March 1942, and it still can be seen next to the present fire station. The company has since added an EMS unit and has grown immensely.
Miller is the vice president of this EMS group and the first assistant chief of the fire unit. Miller has been a cornerstone of the group for most of its existence, as he has been volunteering for the Indian Mills Fire Company for as long as he can remember.
“I’ve been apart of it for my entire life except for when I was away with the military,” Miller said.
Miller joined the military in 1965 and arrived back home in 1969. He was also in the reserves for 28 years.
Miller is a lifelong resident of Shamong Township who has been actively serving the community since 1963, when he was 16 years old.
He is still serving Shamong to this day in many capacities at the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company.
Over the past 52 years, Miller has served the fire company in many roles, including junior fireman, fireman, first assistant, fire chief, vice president and president.
“Shamong Township residents are grateful for his dedication in keeping the residents safe,” members of the Shamong Township Committee said.
Volunteering has become a habit of Miller’s over time as he credited the community he grew up in for making him accustomed to it.
“I’ve always volunteered, it’s just been second nature to me. Back in the day, everybody did it so you would just naturally get involved because your surroundings were doing the same,” Miller said. “Now it’s a dying breed. Nobody really does it, and that takes a toll on the community.”
Miller’s resume is stocked full of volunteering accomplishments, and this set him apart in the eyes of the township committee who selected him.
“Paul has volunteered his time for many years, and in various capacities, within our community. He has been a dedicated member of our fire company for many years where he has held several offices including president and vice president. He has also been a respected member of the Indian Mills Methodist Church, volunteering there in several capacities as well,” Committeeman Sean Gray said.
Miller enjoyed his time at the Pine Barrens Festival when he came out on Shamong/Indian Mills night to receive his award. He was shocked at the outpouring of people the church received.
“Myself and everyone that I came with were treated very well. It is always a well-run affair that seems to get people from all over South Jersey to come out,” Miller said.
