A passion to protect others

Malverne firefighter, Eagle Scout begins training with Marines

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Protecting others has become a passion for Malvernite Nick Bove. Having served with the Nassau County Police Explorers, Boy Scout Troop 24 and, most recently, the Malverne Fire Department, Bove recently decided to expand his mission by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps.

On May 15, the 19-year-old was surprised with a drive-by send-off involving residents and members of the Malverne and Valley Stream fire departments, along with the Malverne Police Department and the Explorers.

“It was very unexpected, especially when I saw not only my department, but the entire Valley Stream crew and the Police Explorers came out,” Bove said. “That all took me by surprise, but it was definitely nice to see, given everything that’s going on.”

Nick’s father, Guy Bove, who has been a member of the Malverne Fire Department for 31 years and is a former captain, said he was proud to see his son follow in his family’s footsteps. “Both his uncle and his grandfather served in the Navy, so I’m thrilled to see the path that he’s chosen,” Guy said. “Seeing everyone that drove by to surprise him today . . . it was above and beyond. You can see how much he’s loved, and that he’s going to be missed.”

Nick’s mother, Deborah, is also a firefighter, with 33 years in the Valley Stream Fire Department. While she acknowledged that it was an emotional day for her, she said she was amazed to see the turnout.

“It was totally great to see the support for him and our family,” Deborah said. “All of the groups that took part in this made it really special for us.”

Nick, who graduated from Valley Stream North High School in 2018, has served with the Malverne F.D. for the past two years. He volunteered with the Explorers — a program that trains young adults in the basics of law enforcement — from 2016 to 2019, and became an Eagle Scout last year. In each of his volunteer endeavors, he said, he gained skills that will be useful in his career in the Marines. Whether it’s understanding how to survive in strange environments or working in stressful situations, he said, he’s prepared to begin the next chapter of his life.

“I’ll definitely be able to showcase my leadership skills through my experiences of becoming a firefighter and an Eagle Scout,” Bove said. “Just to be able to interact with people in general is important, too.”

He added that he looked forward to taking on new challenges, and doing whatever he could to move up the ranks in the USMC.

“When our members aren’t volunteering to make Malverne a better place, they volunteer to make the world a better place,” the Malverne F.D. said in a collective Facebook post. “He still has so much more to selflessly give to his neighbor, community and country. We honor Nick for his courageous commitment to the USMC and thank him for his bravery.”

Bove departed for boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., on May 16.