Barbara Kent delivers LDH, Saranac Lake Fire Chief Brendan Keough’s long-lost puppet to him at the department’s annual banquet last week. (Photo provided — Eva Stinson)

SARANAC LAKE — After a long and comical journey, Saranac Lake Fire Chief Brendan Keough finally got his puppet back.

The puppet was returned to Keough at the fire department’s annual banquet last week after it made multiple cross-country trips and surprise appearances over the last two years in an elaborate practical joke carried out by the department’s members.

The joke dates back several years ago, when Keough showed up at the department’s spring banquet with a puppet he had named LDH, a bawdy fire service acronym that stands for large-diameter hose. He used it in a comedy and ventriloquist act that department members said was “horrible,” so they stole LDH from the chief in 2015 during the department’s annual golf tournament at Saranac Inn Golf Club.

They sent it on a journey across the country, documenting the trip via photos and reports posted on a Facebook page created specifically to further the prank. California, Wisconsin, Virginia and the set of the television show “Chicago Fire” are just a few of the places where the puppet turned up. It returned to Saranac Lake in February of last year, when Keough was named king of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Volunteers staged and posted photos of the puppet near Keough, without him knowing it, at various carnival events.

At the department’s June 9 banquet at the Red Fox Restaurant, LDH’s travels were showcased in a slideshow, set to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and a rendition of “Show Me the Way to Go Home.”

“As the slide show was ending, the room was dark and we had planted a spot light on a dimmer switch,” a department member said in an email. “As the lights rose on the entrance of the room, Barb Kent stepped into the light holding LDH and presented him to Brendan.”

Kent was chosen because she had been selected that night for a special award, one of several given out at the event.

The Ruth King Valor and Community Service Award is presented to a community member each year who has demonstrated exceptional support to the fire department. It is named after Ruth King who was the subject of a dramatic rescue from the 1964 St. Regis Hotel fire by former Chief Preston Burl.

“For as many years as anyone can remember Barb has been a very vocal advocate of the department,” the department wrote on its website. “Without asking, Barb has been known to empty her own cabinets at her house, drop everything and create meals on a moments notice when we most need them, when we are tired and stressed. It is hard to articulate how comforting it is to have someone like Barb just be there with a nice hot meal and a smile when we really need it.”

The Chief’s Award is given each year to the member who made the most significant contribution to the department during the year. It was established in 1989 by former Chief Don Duso. The member is given a plaque and a perpetual plaque with each recipient is also maintained at the fire house. This year’s recipient is Head Fire Driver Rick Yorkey.

“Rick was cited for exceptional dedication to the department,” the department’s website reads. “Rick continually contributes to the running, maintaining, well being and leadership of the department. This year specifically Rick was recognized for a huge effort in overseeing the specifications and coordination of replacing multiple apparatus. … The hours put into this revitalization was enormous and thanks to Rick’s dedication, SLVFD’s fleet is amongst the best and most modern in the area.”

The department also made a special recognition in honor of Ken McLaughlin’s completion of 50 years of service. Ben Wheeler, the deputy chief of special operations for the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control made a presentation on behalf of both the OFPC and the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York recognizing McLaughlin’s service. He was also recognized by the SLVFD with a special plaque.

The following members were also awarded annual service pins for their years of service:

5 Years of Service: Brendan Woodard

10 Years of Service: Bill Madden

20 Years of Service: Casey Taylor

40 Years of Service: Mike Boon

45 Years of Service: Kent Robinson

50 Years of Service: Ken McLaughlin

Awards and recognition were also given to the top responders in the department. From April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 the department had 310 fire calls. The top responders were:

1. Ken McLaughlin with 171 responses

2. Casey Taylor with 158 responses

3. Brendan Keough with 130 responses

4. James D’Ambro with 110 responses

5. Doug Peck with 95 responses