By:Esther McKenna
The cheers could be heard for blocks around last Saturday, as more than 4,000 Merrick residents and well-wishers from neighboring communities lined the streets to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the North Merrick Fire Department.
The two-day celebration included the annual convention and fire drill for the Southern New York Fire District -- whose members span Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Orange Counties -- and culminated with the parade and a festival on Saturday night that included games, rides, food and entertainment.
Volunteer firefighters from 51 departments traveled from as far east as Selden and as far west as Elmont to take part in the festivities.
"We had a great turn out," said Kaye Lenz, past president of the department's Ladies Auxiliary, and wife of long-time member of North Merrick's Engine Company No. 1, Dick Lenz. "We've been feeding and fueling firefighters all weekend!"
The ladies' efforts were appreciated, especially by those participating in the strenuous, day-long fire drill exercises and competition on Saturday at the Four Towns Training Center on Merrick Road, just east of the Meadowbrook Parkway.
"[Firefighters] take these competitions pretty seriously," said parade emcee Mike Tomko, a former captain of the Stewart Manor Fire Department and "long-time friend of Merrick."
"The exercises can be grueling. But, then again, firefighters have to be prepared for anything. Just being able to participate [in the drills] shows that [members] have the right stuff," said Tomko.
The drill, which began at 8 a.m. and continued well after the parade stepped off at 7 p.m., comprised eight events -- the three-man, Motor C and B Ladder, Motor C and B Hose, Efficiency, Motor Pump and Buckets competitions. Overall best score for the eight events was earned by West Sayville's Flying Dutchmen.
High praise was heaped on the North Merrick Fire Department by onlookers, fellow fire departments and parade officials for a job well done.
"This was the best parade ever held in Merrick," said long-time resident Marsha Saldone, who was among the three generations of Saldones attending the festivities. "I wish they would do this every year!."
Janet Chudd, a parade official from the Nassau County Firemen's Association, was impressed by the number of residents who turned out to watch the parade and considered the event "among the best" she has judged over the past 22 years.
The North Merrick Fire Department earned 'Best in Parade' in the 31-50 marching category; Freeport took home the honors in the 50-plus category.
Long-time Merrick resident and firefighter Ralph Tommasino was "thrilled" to serve as the parade's Grand Marshal. "It was such a wonderful event. I enjoyed every minute of it."
Tommasino has seen a great deal of changes during his 60 years of service to the department. The best of those improvements, he said, have been in firefighters' gear and equipment. "[Members] are supplied with much greater protection, thank goodness, than when I was just starting out."
He says changes in population and the continued commercialization of Long Island have also contributed to the differences between "old-time" and "modern-day" firefighting.
"Six decades ago, Long Island was sparsely populated; brush and under-developed land were much more predominant. Outdoor fires occurred more often and were more severe, and, unfortunately, we didn't have today's state-of-the-art equipment to work with."
Tommasino was among three department members who were honored during the 75th anniversary celebration. Charlie Kerns, a North Merrick Fire Department member for 53 years, and Dick Lenz, who has dedicated 51 years of service to the community, were also honored on Saturday. All three men have held official positions in the department, including chief and captain.
Lenz became a volunteer firefighter in 1950, immediately after he and his wife Kaye settled in Merrick. In his opinion, the biggest changes in the department have been in the type of services requested. "We get a lot more requests for rescue assistance, like car accidents, especially on the Southern State."
In his 53 years of service, Charlie Kerns' most memorable save was not department-related. While visiting Cammans Pond, a favorite ice-skating spot for teenagers, Kerns jumped in freezing water to save a drowning child who had fallen through a soft spot in the ice. According to his fellow firefighters, that life-saving action reflects the same kind of selflessness and dedication Charlie displayed throughout all his years of service as a fire volunteer.
As host to the myriad of activities taking place over the weekend, North Merrick's Chief of Department, Jim McCauley, was saddled with many responsibilities.
"Everything went swimmingly," said Chief McCauley. "We are totally ecstatic about the weekend's outcome. It was a team effort with everyone pulling together." He was particularly thankful to Merrick residents and shop owners who might have been inconvenienced by the crowds and parking restrictions.
McCauley and his brother Terry, a former department chief, followed their father in joining the North Merrick Fire Department, continuing the family tradition of serving the community.
"Serving the Merrick fire district is a big job, and I believe we do it well," said Chief McCauley.
Apparently, the more than 4,000 people that turned out to honor the volunteer firefighters think so too.
