NASHUA – At first, giving it one shot was enough.

If he didn’t make it, U.S. Marine Ross Jubert figured he’d move on to something else.

But after a few chats with his friend Wayne Andrews, a retired Nashua firefighter and fellow military veteran, Jubert agreed he’d give it another go.

The second chapter had a much better ending. On Thursday night, Jubert, who served in Iraq, was one of eight probationary Nashua Fire Rescue members to receive pins – and with it, the OK to drop “probationary” from their titles.

The pinning ceremony was one of several that were part of Nashua Fire Rescue’s annual Recognition Night, a program that also honors the past year’s retirees and recognizes several firefighters, civilians and businesses for going above and beyond in their service or assistance to the community, the department and members.

“He made it almost all the way, but wasn’t hired,” Andrews said of Jubert’s initial attempt. “He wasn’t going to try out again. … I just told him it’s a great job, a great profession.”

A year later, though, Jubert changed his mind.

“I was actually going to be a wildlands firefighter in Montana, but the day I was hired was the same day Nashua hired me,” said Jubert, of Merrimack. “I took it; it’s a much better job.”

Other probationary members pinned Thursday were firefighters Brian Morrissey Jr., Christopher Turgeon, Angel Alvarez, David Leblond, William Farrell and Benjamin Clark and dispatcher Kyle Ball.

Morrissey is the son of Fire Chief Brian Morrissey.

This year’s retirees include fire marshal Richard Wood, 25 years; dispatcher Jen Sullivan, 17 years; and firefighters Paul Soucy, 20 years; Roger Hall, 25 years; Tim Maynard, 32 years; Greg Bronson, 24 years; and Scott Martinage, 30 years.

A pair of Outstanding Service Awards were presented for distinctly different, but equally praiseworthy, acts that more than epitomize the award description, “for dedication and commitment to Nashua Fire Rescue in supporting the mission statement through his actions both on-duty and off-duty.”

Lt. Nate Armstrong, who received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 483 Firefighter of the Year award two weeks ago, was cited Thursday for coming to the rescue of a horse that was stranded on the F.E. Everett Turnpike after fire destroyed the trailer in which it was being transported.

“The trailer was fully involved (with fire) by the time we arrived,” master of ceremonies Lt. Mark Wholey said. “Fortunately, the horse had been removed; he was grazing on the side of the road.”

Not sure what to do – “You can’t just toss a horse into the back of a pickup,” someone quipped – Deputy Chief Dan Cronin remembered Armstrong owns horse trailers.

“On a sunny summer afternoon, even though he was off-duty, Lt. Armstrong brought his trailer down, loaded the horse, brought him back to his farm and kept him for several days until the owner could make arrangements to bring him home,” Wholey said.

Armstrong was also cited for helping to found and for his continued involvement in the “Battle of the Badges” hockey game that benefits Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.

The other service award, which is sponsored by local Liberty Mutual insurance offices, went to firefighter Stephen Phillips for “his commitment and determination” to the job, as well as off-duty endeavors.

The presenter said Phillips is a major force behind a series of home renovations and construction of wheelchair ramps that firefighters have undertaken in recent years.

Among them are ramps built for paralyzed Nashua High School North football player Cooper Doucette and for one of the department’s own, Commissioner Paul Garant, who uses a wheelchair since his near-fatal illness two years ago.

Phillips also helped keep a department benefit golf tournament going, and according to Wholey, spent more than 10 hours one day helping a less than handy fellow firefighter restore his bathroom to basic working order.

“A lot of guys, from the retirees to guys on the job, did a lot of work on these projects we do,” Phillips said. “Even the guys who couldn’t make it kept checking in with me, giving me and the others a lot of support.”

Stopping at the scene of a major car accident while off-duty and providing vital medical assistance to a seriously injured patient earned Lt. Matt Parzych this year’s Loyalty Award. Parzych, Wholey said, stayed and assisted the patient, who was suffering from severe spinal injuries.

Springing into action to see through a home childbirth that could easily have ended in tragedy earned Lt. Jess Wyman and her crew from Engine Company 5 this year’s Emergency Medical Services Commendation award.

Among the critical complications, Wholey said, was the umbilical cord had wrapped around the baby, and when Wyman and the crew arrived, the baby had no pulse.

“Within six minutes of Engine 5’s arrival, the cord was cut and the baby had a pulse,” Wholey said.

Also awarded Thursday were three Commissioner’s Awards, which are presented to nondepartment individuals or groups that support Nashua Fire Rescue.

Fran Dupuis, an EMS instructor and manager of EMS and Trauma Services at St. Joseph Hospital, was honored “for her continued support of the health and wellness of NFR members, by planning, procuring and administering the annual flu vaccinations.”

Local companies Pine Motor Parts and Gate City Collision were cited for their “continued willingness to supply materials needed to maintain the pedestal fire alarm boxes throughout the city.”

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-6443 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.