Memorial Service Honors Fallen NJ Fighters
The 2023 New Jersey Fallen Firefighters Memorial and Fire Equipment Museum, situated in Allentown – Upper Freehold Twp., NJ (Monmouth), conducted its annual Memorial Service on June 3, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The event was organized to commemorate the lives of the deceased firefighters who sacrificed themselves to protect the lives and property of people. The Chief Executive Officer of the memorial, Mrs. Catherine Ray, addressed the attendees by stating, “Those brave and courageous heroes who unselfishly dedicated their lives, fighting to protect the lives and property of people, some of them they knew and many of them they would never meet. Their memory lives in our hearts, and with the families left behind, we pay our utmost respect to them.”
The memorial service recognized the lives of five firefighters who lost their lives in the line-of-duty in New Jersey in 2022. They were members of the Harrison Fire Department, Keyport Fire Department, Saddle Brook Fire Department, Upper Saddle River Fire Department, and Westwood Fire Department. They were Vincent Doffont, Timothy Pfleger, Basil Pizzuto, Alex Moss, and Kevin May, respectively. Their families, fellow firefighters, and the public came together to pay their tribute to the ultimate sacrifice that the firefighters had made.
The solemn event also highlighted the grave lack of proper equipment and training that puts the safety of firefighters under threat. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, as of June 3, 2023, there have been 30 firefighter fatalities in the United States while performing firefighting duties. These startling statistics manifest the urgent need to invest in fire departments’ safety equipment to safeguard firefighters’ lives.
At the end of the ceremony, the attendees watched a video on the memorial’s YouTube channel (Mid-Jersey.New) that showcased the firefighters’ heroism. The video was a testament to the bravery of the firefighters, who were willing to put their lives at risk to protect the community. The channel is a recent endeavor to create a platform that pays tribute to first responders’ bravery while fulfilling its primary objective of safeguarding the community.
In conclusion, the 2023 New Jersey Fallen Firefighters Memorial and Fire Equipment Museum annual Memorial Service was an event aimed at paying respects to the sacrifice of fallen firefighters. The event was a poignant reminder of the bravery, dedication, and selflessness of our firefighters. It was also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges that firefighters face and the need to provide them with the proper training and equipment to perform their duties safely and efficiently. The Mid-Jersey.New YouTube Channel is a commendable effort to acknowledge the firefighters’ courage and create a forum to facilitate community engagement.
