Remembering those who served in Rockville Centre

More than 150 members of the Rockville Centre Fire Department gathered in their Class A uniforms at Firefighter’s Memorial Park on North Forest Avenue this past Sunday to honor four firefighters from the department who died this year, as well as the hundreds of others who have served the village since the department was formed.

Joined by the families of Honorary Chief Leo Bellin, Honorary Chief Frederick Danks, firefighter Ronald Clayton and Firefighter Gerald Smith, were Chief John Busching, First Asst. Chief John Thorpe, Second Asst. Chief Robert Seaman and Mayor Francis Murray, himself a firefighter. Also on hand to mark the event were Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard and village trustees Kevin Glynn, Ed Oppenheimer (who is also a village firefighter), Michael Sepe and former mayor and former Rockville Centre Fire Chief Eugene Murray.

The memorial service takes place each year. The 350-member Rockville Centre Fire Department, the largest volunteer department in New York state, provides village residents with fire, rescue and ambulance services 365 days a year.