FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794
Town of North Hempstead Honors Alert Junior Firefighters
North Hempstead, NY–Carrying on the tradition of honoring individuals and establishments in the Town who are making a difference, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board paid recognition recently to the Alert Fire company’s junior firefighter for their dedicated service to the community.
“Because of you and others like you who contribute in a major way, North Hempstead is without a doubt one of the best places to live in America,” Supervisor Kaiman told the group of young men and women at a July 10 pre-Town Board reception in Town Hall. “Your dedicated volunteerism is indicative of the spirit of this Town.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Alert Fire Company’s junior firefighting program recruits young men and women 12-17 who aspire to join the ranks of the Nation’s bravest. More than 50 of Alert’s present active members were at one time members of the juniors.
“You honor our community by giving back in so many ways,” said Councilwoman Lee Seeman, whose District includes areas of Great Neck. “We in North Hempstead are fortunate to have the junior firefighters in our midst. Thank you for your great service to our community. Your volunteerism symbolizes civic duty to a T.”
The junior firefighters conduct many of the same training activities as regular firefighters, except not to the same extent. They are given real turnout gear and dress uniforms, and spend countless hours training and learning real-life firefighting techniques. Once a junior has been a member for at least a year, and reaches the age of 17, they then become eligible to join the regular fire department.
Located at 555 Middle Neck Road, with an Annex firehouse at 142 Steamboat Road, the Alert Fire Company serves the Villages of Great Neck, Kings Point, Saddle Rock, and some of the unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead.