Union City officials donated a fire engine and an ambulance to two separate towns in the Dominican Republic last week.
A ceremony to mark the occasion was held at the Department of Public Works Garage near the intersection of New York Avenue and 28th Street, on Friday Feb. 27. The donation was part of Union City’s celebration of the 65th Dominican Independence Day.
The town also held a flag-raising ceremony at International Park, at 3700 Palisade Ave., earlier that day and a musical celebration at Jose Marti Middle School, at 1800 Summit Ave., that night.
The vehicles are no longer up to code for local use.
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The vehicles are no longer up to code for local use, but they will help to improve safety in the two Dominican towns, said Union City Commissioner Lucio Fernandez.
The fire engine, given to San Francisco de Macoris, was once used by the Union City Fire Department and later, the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. The ambulance, which went to Moca, belonged to Union City Emergency Management Services.
Representatives from the Dominican towns – Luis Elias Esmurdoc, the fire chief of San Francisco de Macoris, and Raul Perez Frias, the president of the association of Mocans in New Jersey – were present to accept the donations. Also present was Consul Angel Garrido from the Dominican Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Garrido said that it was a good opportunity for the communities in Union City and the Dominican Republic to strengthen ties.
“It is an opportunity to contribute to the good relationship of our community, the Dominican community in Union City,” he said. “It is not only the value of the equipment, which is very valuable for us, but also the extension to work with our community and make our citizens or the people of Dominican descent to feel at home in Union City.”
The vehicles will be taken to the Dominican Republic by boat, said Fernandez.
Students in the Union City High School South Campus ROTC program also participated in the event.
Amanda Staab can be reached at astaab@hudsonreporter.com.