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| MAY 2021
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Important updates will be posted immediately.
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Last update: Saturday, May 29, 2021 - 1425 hrs
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2021 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of
Hamden's first fire company, Highwood Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1.
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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The HFRA wishes everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day!
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Check out the sampler of HFD photos below, taken during Hamden Memorial Day Parades
from 1949 to 1979. Click on any image to enlarge it to 1500 x 1000 pixels.
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| CLICK on the photo to view a three minute 8mm home movie of the 1962 and 1963 Memorial Day Parades |
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| 1987 photo |
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The website is saddened to report the passing of Bob Mark, 73, noted Hamden resident who for many years also served as a volunteer firefighter with Co. 7. Bob lost his battle with leukemia on Wednesday, May 26th.
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Excerpts from Bob's obituary, published today in The New Haven Register: Affectionately called "Ponytail Bob" by his friends and "Papa Bob" by his grandchildren, he lived a full life committed to helping others. In 1965, he joined the Coast Guard, where he served for four years. Starting in 1969, he was a volunteer firefighter and EMT – first in Branford, CT and later in Hamden, CT – for over 50 years.
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As a firefighter and EMT, he was often first on the scene, providing a steady and calming presence as he swiftly, expertly, and with gentle precision, cared for injured persons. He volunteered for 30 years at the soup kitchen, where his friendly face, ready smile, and sense of humor brought emotional nourishment as well as physical nourishment to those around him.
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After graduating from New Haven College (now called University of New Haven), he became an electrical engineer. He lived and worked in many locations, finally settling in Hamden, CT where he worked at Sikorsky for 30 years.
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CLICK HERE to read Bob's entire obituary in The New Haven Register.
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Please keep Bob's family in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
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35 Years Ago!
Live Fire Training on Arch Street
Well aware that live fire training promotes overall firefighter safety and efficiency, and that doing it in town would result in significant savings, Chief John Tramontano anticipated that live fire training in an old house on Arch Street might help Hamden's politicians to understand the wisdom of funding a permanent fire training facility for Hamden. It didn't work - and the department is STILL waiting.
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| FF. Torres, NHFD |
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Area Fire Departments Covered NHFD for Firefighter Torres' Thursday Funeral
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According to Chief Gary Merwede, the Hamden Fire Department was part of the historic 30-hour coverage of the City of New Haven by area career fire departments to permit all New Haven fire personnel to participate in the funeral of Firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr., who died Wednesday morning, May 12th, while rescuing occupants from a Valley Street house fire.
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For the calling hours, from approximately 3 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday May 19th, and all day Thursday May 20th, a total of ten engine and four truck companies from neighboring career departments covered in at New Haven fire stations as all NHFD personnel are released for Firefighter Torres' funeral.
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Retired Asst. Chief Clark Hurlburt notified the website that at least thirty-plus active and retired HFD personnel were present outside St. Mary's Church. In addition to Asst. Chief Hurlburt were retired Asst. Chief Bob Surprise, retired B/Cs Bill Fitzmaurice and Sam DeBurra, B/Cs Spencer and Desroches, and numerous other active and retired HFD officers and firefighters - "an amazing turnout." See group photo below.
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The thoughts and prayers of the members of the HFRA are with the Torres family and our brothers and sisters at the New Haven Fire Department.
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.Revised 5/22/2021 - 1904 hrs
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| Contingent of active and retired HFD - CLICK to enlarge image (B/C Fitzmaurice FB posting) |
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| NHFD Twitter Posting |
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CLICK on these images to enlarge them.
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These gentlemen of the HFD joined with North Haven and East Haven firefighters at I-91's Bailey Street overpass in North Haven to salute Ff. Torres' funeral cortege as it headed north to Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford. Left to right are Ff. Fred "Chick" Manware (Ret.), Lt. K.P. Martin, Lt. Jeff Woodford, Ff. Gary Greene, Ff. Don Pazcowski, Fire Insp. Paul Turner, and Lt/Training Officer Rich Lennon.
| Website kudos to Chief Gary Merwede for his outstanding commentary during Thursday's coverage of Ff. Ricardo Torres' funeral. As hundreds of New Haven and out-of-town firefighters were assembling for the funeral at St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue, the Chief provided Channel 8 viewers with eloquent insights into the fire service, as well as those customs and traditions that are observed at funerals and on other formal occasions. Nice job, Chief!
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With many other departments, helping to protect our neighbors to the south
Hamden's Engine 1 was among the ten engine and four truck companies that covered New Haven for approximately thirty hours over May 19th and 20th, so that every member of the NHFD could attend the wake and funeral for Ff. Torres without having to be concerned about getting right back to the firehouse afterward. Nice going, guys!
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CLICK on these images to enlarge them.
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| Wednesday: Hamden Engine 1 covering at Goffe Street (AKA "Dixwell Station") for NHFD firefighters to attend wake for Ff. Torres. |
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| Thursday: NHFD Station 8 (Whitney) are (L-R): Capt. Ed Evers, Will Heiney, Sam DeBurra Jr., Paul Anderson, and Lt./Training Officer Rich Lennon |
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Chief Merwede provided the photo of E1 at Goffe Street on Wednesday. All Hamden manpower was donated by members of Hamden Local 2687, I.A.F.F., who volunteered to man Hamden's Engine 1 for the thirty hours of department coverage in New Haven on May 19th and 20th.
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On Thursday, HFRA President and retired Lt. Bob Mordecai stopped by New Haven's Station 8 (Whitney Avenue) to take a few photos of our guys with Engine 1. Rescue 1, Branford's heavy rescue, is seen in the background.
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CLICK HERE for a page of photos and videos related to the funeral of NHFD Firefighter Ricardo Torres, who lost his life saving others in a Valley Street house fire on May 12th.
Posted 5/21/2021
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| CLICK PHOTO FOR VIDEO |
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| CLICK PHOTO FOR VIDEO |
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HFRA President and retired HFD Lt. Bob Mordecai shot these two videos. The first video is the arrival of the New Haven Fire Department funeral procession for Firefighter Ricardo Torres at New Haven's historic St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Hillhouse Avenue. Pipers play "Amazing Grace" as six pallbearers carry Ff. Torres' casket into the church. The second video is of active and retired Hamden, North Haven, and East Haven firefighters saluting the funeral cortege as it passed beneath the Bailey Road overpass of I-91 on its way to Ff. Torres' burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.
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Posted 5/21/2021 - 1850
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| Former Mayor Barbara DeNicola |
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Former Hamden Mayor Barbara DeNicola Passes Away
Daughter and sister of two former mayors served as mayor from 1997 to 1999
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From Hamden Patch - Hamden, CT - Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, on behalf of the Hamden Legislative Council and Hamden residents across Town, shares in the mourning of Mayor Barbara DeNicola's passing and celebrates her life and contributions to Hamden, to the Greater New Haven region, to Connecticut, and truly to so many lives across the world.
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Please keep the DeNicola family in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
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Posted 5/20/2021
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Barbara DeNicola's Two Years Were a Much Needed Breath of Fresh Air
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| New Haven Register, February 17, 1999 |
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Following the six years of an administration that was openly hostile to the department, the 1997 election of Barbara DeNicola ushered in an era of renewed appreciation for the Hamden Fire Department, as can be seen in this newspaper photo from 1999.
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The Town's last Republican mayor, Ms. DeNicola was supported by many local Democrats who had grown dissatisfied with the previous administration's treatment of Hamden's guardian services. Her predecessor lost the 1997 election to DeNicola by just over 200 votes, while her running mate, Hamden Town Clerk Vera Morrison, won re-election by more than 10 times that number.
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Mayor DeNicola would be a place holder for the next Democratic mayor, Carl Amento, who was elected in 1999 and served until 2005.
Posted 5/20/2021
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Website thanks to the Fire Marshal's Office for the heads-up on this . . .
The Town is hosting a special event this Saturday, May 22 to honor essential and front-line workers of Hamden and surrounding towns who served in all types of capacities throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The ceremony will begin at 11 AM and is expected to run about an hour. All are invited to attend the ceremony, listen to various musical performances, hear from our elected officials in attendance, and to spend a nice Saturday morning inside Town Center Park with a lawn chair and/or a blanket. Joining the ceremony will be businesses and organizations from the community, and the Hamden Honor Guard and National Guard.
Mayor Leng will deliver remarks, along with special guest speakers. If you wish to attend, enter through the Hamden Middle School the morning of - CERT will guide your parking.
Posted 5/18/2021
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75 Years Ago! - Gag's Pepper Pot
CLICK on the photo.
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| From "This is Hamden" - Hamden Chamber of Commerce (1948) |
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| From the official HFD Twitter Account - 5/14/2021 |
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Woodchuck Rescued From Pipe
Engine 3 assisted Hamden animal control with the rescue of a wood chuck stuck in a pipe.
Pictured is Lt Pete Lynch with his new friend for life!
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| Photo by Bob Mordecai |
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Here's Lieut. DiStefano with his crew test driving a fixer-upper during Hurst Tool training on February 15, 2001. Clockwise after Mike are Firefighters Jay Connolly, Scott Chasney, Julio Lopes and Kim Talmadge.
Re-posted 5/15/21
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| Tom Doherty and John O'Hare |
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Member Update
Tom Doherty and Dave Johnson paid a visit to brother retiree John O'Hare today at his home in Orange. Having retired at the maximum age in October 1991, John is our second oldest retiree. Richie Lostritto is six weeks older. At 94, they both are the last two living retirees born before 1930. But you'd never know it because they are both still very sharp and possess the same great sense of humor they had when they were on the job.
John acknowledges that he has "slowed a bit" due to some back issues that have plagued him lately, but he still gets out and about.
John and Tom reminisced about their days working part-time at the golf course for the Parks & Rec Dept. And of course there were a few Fred Fletcher stories from John's days working with Fred at Station 5 some fifty years ago, when it was a little less politically correct than it is today (try "a lot" less . . . ).
But the high point of the visit was remembering the legendary Art Heriot, a master of dialects, a true comic genius, and an outstanding firefighter. The statute of limitations having been up decades ago, the three listened to a CD containing Art's classic off-duty crank phone call to Leonard Pipe. Employing a perfect Italian dialect with the hapless manager, Art tries to get an estimate to fill his son-in-law's in-ground swimming pool with "con-creek, to make it safe for the kids." (It goes downhill from there.)
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| Art Heriot |
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Then it was Art's call to apply for a job as truck driver. Using a flawless Irish brogue, Art convinced the guy on the other end of the phone, himself a genuine son of the Auld Sod, that he would make a fine employee despite just getting out of jail.
To suggest that Art's conversation with the poor fellow bordered on the ridiculous would be an understatement. But the guy was buying the whole thing. Finally, when asked his name, without missing a beat Art replied, "John O'Hare." That was Art.
Anyway, what was to have been a twenty-minute stop to say "hi" turned out to be more like 90 minutes. Thanks, John, for letting your fellow retirees know that you're doing just fine and for sharing a lot of great stories and a few laughs. We need to do that a lot more these days.
Posted 5/14/21
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This 1953 item about a now-legendary Hamden fireman (before he was a Hamden fireman) appeared in Chronicle editor Francis "Bud" O'Connor's weekly column, "The Melting Pot." (The photo is ours.)
For several years The Hamden Chronicle was voted the best weekly in New England.
Posted 5/16/14
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Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Remain at Half-Staff Saturday for Peace Officers Memorial Day
Posted on May 13, 2021
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to remain at half-staff on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Peace Officers Memorial Day is a national observance paying tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officials who have died in the line of duty. It is recognized annually during National Police Week.
In addition to this announcement, flags in Connecticut are also currently at half-staff in honor of New Haven Firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr., who died Wednesday in the line of duty while responding to an emergency. Following Saturday’s observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day, flags should remain at half-staff until sunset on the date of his interment, which has not yet been determined. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be returned to full-staff.
CLICK HERE to read the Governor's complete proclamation.
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Friday, May 13, 1966
DUI Driver kills three Sacred Heart Students
Possibly Hamden's Worst Ever Traffic Accident
CLICK HERE
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Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff In Honor of
New Haven Firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr.
Posted on May 12, 2021
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff in honor of New Haven Firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr., who died in the line of duty while responding to a residential fire early this morning.
Flags should be lowered immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time.
“On behalf of the State of Connecticut, I send my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of New Haven Firefighter Ricardo Torres, Jr.,” Governor Lamont said. “Today’s tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that firefighters face each and every day when responding to emergencies. Firefighter Torres is a hero, who dedicated his life to the safety of the people of New Haven. My thoughts are also with the firefighters who were injured while responding to this emergency, and I pray for their speedy recovery.”
“We grieve for the tragic loss of Firefighter Torres,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “He sacrificed his life for the lives of others. His bravery and courage in service to his community and our state will always be remembered. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and the New Haven Fire Department.”
The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be returned to full-staff.
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Attention HFD Members
NHFD LODD FF. Riccardo Torres
Wake: Wednesday May 19, 2021, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Iovanne Funeral Home
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This event is private for family close friends and the New Haven Fire Dept:
Funeral Service:
May 20,2021 10:00am
St. Mary’s Church
5 Hillhouse Ave.
New Haven CT
Church seating is reserved for family, NHFD and invitees.
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Members will not be admitted to the Church and are to assemble outside the Church. FDNY Funeral Honor Guard will assign visiting firefighters to designated holding pens. Burial will be private for family and NHFD Personnel at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford
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Uniform of the Day - Class A
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There will be a Sea of Blue March for NHFD members and retirees. They are to fully assembled at New Haven Fire Dept. Headquarters on Grand Ave. for the march to the Church.
All non-NHFD Personnel are to park at Sports Haven to board shuttles to St. Mary’s Church !
Shuttles will run 8am – 9:45am to St Mary’s. Return to Sports Haven 11am -12:30pm
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75 Years Ago!
May 8, 1946
Blaze Heavily Damages Himmel Bros. Building
1409 Dixwell Avenue
The Himmel Brothers Co. specialized in the manufacture of steel store fronts. Late on Wednesday evening, May 8, 1946, Hamden firefighters responded to a structure fire at the company's classic Art Deco building at 1409 Dixwell Avenue. The incident went to two alarms. According to the article below, the fire got started in the drafting room and was confined to the office area of the building. Engines 1, 2 and 3, the ladder truck and rescue squad responded.
One of the most striking features of this building, completed in 1938, were two massive stainless steel front doors.
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| New Haven Evening Register, Thursday, May 9, 1946 |
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| Himmel Brothers Building - May 1946 and May 2016 |
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According to their 1946 catalog, "for over 30 years Himmel Brothers Co. have specialized entirely in the development and manufacture of store front constructions."
Himmel Brothers eventually merged with H.A. Leeds on Leeder Hill Drive. The original Dixwell Avenue building has deteriorated since it was vacated over ten years ago. It is now boarded up and has no roof. Sad.
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Today the Himmel building is still roofless, as seen in this 2016 photo. Sky can been seen above the plywood that now covers the opening where two massive stainless steel double doors once hung. The steel doors can be seen in the photo below, courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society.
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Revised 5/6/2021 from a website article originally posted 5/8/2016
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May 1, 1968
Maselli's Fireplace Center
3547 Whitney Avenue
Not a big fire, but a nasty one.
CLICK on photo.
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| May 1, 1968 - Maselli Fireplace Center |
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| Photo courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society - CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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Baldwin's River Side Saloon was approximately on this spot at the turn of the 20th century. Note the unmolested head of the Sleeping Giant in the days before quarrying began (the quarrying ended in the early-1930s).
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| May 29, 1978 - Ray Reilly and Guy White in front of Engine 3, the 1973 Maxim Telesqurt (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| April 1982 - Supt. Richie Lostritto and Bob Mordecai outside the Shop at the rear of Station 2 (CLICK to enlarge) |
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60 Years Ago
| 40 Years Ago
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| May 1961 - Sam Jones was a pioneer - CLICK |
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| May 1981 - Four new lieutenants bring total to eight - CLICK |
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NEVER FORGET!
We will always remember our brother firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice, and the thousands of other innocent victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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