GCFD Hosts County Firefighters Memorial

Ex-Chief Brian Ridgway, Chief James Meehan & Mayor Peter Bee

The 69th Nassau County Firefighters' Memorial Service was held on Sunday, May 4th at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Garden City. The memorial service was coordinated under the direction of Chief James Meehan and the Officers and members of the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department. The Memorial Service Executive Committee coordinates the event annually with a host Nassau County fire department. This year, the service honored one-hundred fifty-three volunteer firefighters, ladies auxiliary and junior fire fighters who passed away during the year 2007. According to Chief Meehan, "it is quite an honor to be able to host this event in order to remember the many residents that have served Nassau County unselfishly." Nearly one thousand people attended the service.

This year, as in past years, hundreds of Nassau County volunteer firefighters from many of the seventy-one Nassau volunteer fire departments, as well as family members, gathered at St. Joseph's Church in Garden City to remember the deceased. The service was an honorable presentation which included a processional of hundreds of firefighters led by the Nassau County Firefighters bagpipe band into the church and the presentation of the colors by the Garden City Fire Department Color Guard. During the ceremony, Garden City Fire Chief James Meehan led the service with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Joseph M. Schlafer, Rector of St. Joseph's Church, gave the invocation to the service as well. Throughout the service, various members of local clergy read prayer and scripture, including Garden City Fire Chaplain Rev. Joseph D'Angelo.

Garden City student plays Taps during service

During the most memorable portion of the program, Garden City Ex-Chief Donald Jenkins read the necrology of names being honored while bells were tolled and Garden City volunteer fire officers and firefighters presented lighted candles in honor of the deceased volunteers. Student musicians from the Garden City High School saluted those being remembered by playing taps during the service. Also attending the event was Garden City Mayor Peter Bee and village administrator Robert Schoelle. The ceremony was a fine tribute to those deceased volunteers who gave faithfully for many many years to the Nassau County Fire Service. Garden City Fire Chief James Meehan also noted that "he was privileged to have such a dedicated group of Garden City volunteer firefighters to help coordinate the service and that we were able to have the service right here in the Village of Garden City." Photos by Leonard Rivera.

Nassau County Firefighters Bagpipe Band

Chief James Meehan and Rev. Joseph M. Schlafer enter church Captain James Meehan Jr. and Firefighter Dan Roe hold candles GCFD Fire Chaplain Rev. Joseph D'Angelo leads a prayer Ex-Chief Donald Jenkins reads necrology of names Chief James Meehan leads Pledge of Allegiance during service Hundreds of Firefighters line-up to enter St. Joseph's Church GCFD Color Guard leads processional into church. Local clergy participate in service Nearly 1,000 firefighters and family members attending the service