COMMUNITY NEWS

Junior firefighter monument erected in East Meadow

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In honor of their 10th anniversary, the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association unveiled a new monument dedicated to the region’s youngest volunteers in Eisenhower Park on May 15.

A color guard comprised of the six teenaged officers of the association — President Richard Field, First Vice President Bryan Scheer, Second Vice President Ryan Hunt, Secretary Anthony Pallisco, Treasurer Kimberly Tetuan and Sergeant at Arms Michael Scanlon — raised flags over the site and helped County Executive Ed Mangano uncover the new structure. The terrazzo stone monument (built by Durite U.S.A.), as well as labor and other materials, was fully paid for by donations from many organizations, companies and individuals, including Nassau County fire departments, organizations, associations, junior and Explorer groups, friends and family members.

Officials said the junior firefighters’ association members conceived the idea of leaving a legacy in this way nearly two years ago. They hoped the monument would inspire future young firefighters to volunteer. Mangano recommended that the structure be placed in Eisenhower Park, which is centrally located in East Meadow.

In addition to commemorating the 10-year anniversary and leaving a lasting impact, officials said the monument serves as a reward to all of the juniors and Explorers in Nassau for their dedication and hard work. Special guests — including Mangano, Legislator Norma Gonsalves, Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Scott Tusa, Parks Commissioner Bryan Nugent, Deputy Parks Commissioner Frank Camerlengo, County Fire Commission Chairman Denis Collins and Rachel Buczynski of the National Volunteer Fire Council — attended the ceremony to praise these volunteers.

Attendees from fire departments across the region also watched the East Norwich Fire Company and the Plainview Fire Department use two aerial-ladder fire trucks to create a towering arch to display an oversized American flag 100 feet in the air at the site of the memorial. Members of the association also received certificates during the Sunday morning event.

The Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association was started in 2006 to unite all of the 41 junior fire departments in Nassau (including East Meadow’s unit). A committee of the Nassau County Firemen’s Association — including founding Chairmen Kevin McElynn, of Baldwin, and Mike Destefano, of Mineola — spearheaded the efforts to organize the group, which is currently led by Board of Directors Chairman Jerry Presta, of East Norwich.