Help renovate the fireman’s memorial

The Rockville Centre Fire Department is turning to the public to help fund the completion of work to remodel the Fireman’s Memorial Park in the village.

The majority of the funding for the remodeling and rededication of the park came from a Nassau County grants. But the RVCFD said the funds fell a little short. To make up the difference, the department will be selling engraved bricks to residents who would like to honor someone at the park.

“Each and every day, residents in our community sacrifice their time and risk their safety by volunteering in our fire department,” said Chief John Thorp. “On their own time, they become highly trained in order to protect the health and safety of each and every resident. They answer emergency calls at all hours of the day and night, never knowing what they are about to confront. Through this memorial, we are honoring those that have made the supreme sacrifice.”

Fireman’s Memorial Park, which lies directly next door to the Reliance Hose Company No. 3 building on North Forrest Avenue, is a space where RVC firefighters gather every year to remember their fallen members. Every October, firefighters lay wreaths at the memorial in the park to remember firefighters who have died during the previous year.

Though the park is small, it is a little run-down. The grant from the county is funding many improvements to the park. The improvements include a new memorial to fallen firefighters and a monument with an eternal flame, new brick walkways, flag poles, lighting, new plantings and an irrigation system.

Much of the construction of the new park is being done by the firefighters themselves. The new park will also incorporate steel from the World Trade Center.

To help fund the completion of the park, residents can purchase bricks for the memorial walk for $100. The bricks can have three lines of text of 15 characters (including spaces), and can be dedicated to a Rockville Centre firefighter, a village resident who died on Sept. 11 or to the fire department in general.

Residents can call 678-9063 to order a memorial brick.

“We are demonstrating to the families they left behind that their loved ones were appreciated and will never be forgotten,” Thorp said. “I encourage every resident to join us in honoring these heroes by purchasing and placing a brick with a personal message that will forever be part of this memorial.”