'Battle of the Badges' brings Norfolk citizens out to donate blood

NORFOLK, Neb. — Rivalries are a mainstay in the world of sports, like the Huskers against the Hawkeyes. Rivalries also find a way into our daily lives. Two Norfolk divisions have a rivalry that gets the citizens out for a good cause.  

Fire Marshall Sean Lindgren acknowledges the fire division's want to win the Battle of the Badges.

“We have a lot of competitive people here in the building so of course it’s a competitive thing,” Lindgren said. “Of course we want to come out on top, but the biggest thing is that we’re getting donations for the Red Cross, it’s the most important.”

The event is put on by the police and fire divisions in partnership with Red Cross and allows people to donate blood and choose which division to give credit to.

Josh Bauermeister, a lieutenant for the police division, echoed Lindgren’s sentiment and said the blood drive is more important than winning the competition.

“For a long time, we have the 'Battle of the Badges' for the blood drive for the Red Cross so we can get that much needed blood into the community and into the Red Cross’ hands,” Bauermeister said. “It’s just a friendly competition between the police department and the fire department.”

The blood drive ran from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday and was hosted by the fire division at Fire Station One.  

Lindgren said this competition is similar to how the two divisions work together in emergency calls and contribute to citizens’ safety.

“We work great with the police department,” Lindgren said. "We go on many responses with them so it’s just a great way for us to have a friendly competition."

While it’s easy to see both divisions wanted to work together in causes and responses, Bauermeister had a message for all who donated blood on Friday.

“Make sure when you do, you specify that you’re donating it on behalf of the police department so we can win,” Bauermeister said.

According to Red Cross, every two seconds, a person needs blood and Red Cross tries to avoid the usual summer dip in donations by putting on events such as the "Battle of the Badges."