To commemorate their 10th anniversary, the firefighters of the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue will collect their memories and depictions of important events in the department’s history in a 160-page yearbook.
The coffee table book, approximately 9 by 12 inches, will contain photographs of around 300 members of the NHRFR, and include past members.
The NHRFR was formed in 1999 when the fire departments in Weehawken, Union City, West New York, Guttenberg, and North Bergen were regionalized.
According to Captain Robert Morrison, co-chairman of the yearbook committee, all proceeds will benefit the North Hudson Fire Officers and Firefighters Health and Welfare Fund, which aids firefighters who are injured and require financial assistance. Battalion Chief Robert Duane, the other co-chairman, initiated the idea of a yearbook for the department.
The effort
The firefighters’ union provided the $10,000 required to support the project, money they hope will be returned once a certain number of books are sold.
“This book is a history of us,” said Morrison “Hopefully they will be able to use this book as a stepping stone to make a 25th anniversary book.”
“This book is a history of us.” – Captain Robert Morrison
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Some retired firefighters sent in their pictures from places as far away as Florida.
The committee also reached out to firefighters and asked them to send in their old photographs, documents, and stories to recount memories of the past 10 years and earlier. Some of the members are second and third generation firefighters.
The cost of the yearbook will be $80 for a bonded leather edition and $55 for a deluxe standard edition.
“It’s a really good project because we have old-timers that we haven’t seen in [a long time]. One of our retired guys came back to take a portrait today,” said Morrison.
“They’re actually calling us – ‘can I get a picture of my brother and me?’ ”
A bit of history
Included in the pictures will be three firehouses that are now closed: Engine 14 on 61st and Jackson streets in West New York; Engine 7 on Palisade Avenue, closed in 2002 to create Rescue 1; and Engine 12 in Guttenberg, closed to make way for the current firehouse on Port Imperial Boulevard.
Engine 15, a temporary firehouse, was opened during a time when Pershing Road was closed. “It was just a vacant auto mechanic garage with a fire truck and a trailer for an office,” said Morrison. “I have a picture of that.”
Events such as the boot drive for victims of Sept. 11 will also be featured. Approximately $575,000 was raised by the North Hudson Regional Firefighters for the cause.
Memorials will also be included in the yearbook, such as one for firefighter Vincent Neglia, who lost his life fighting a fire in Union City on Sept. 9, 2006.
“That kind of hit us all hard,” said Morrison “We were all grieving and we all came to Vinnie’s funeral.”
The yearbook should be available in early 2010. To buy a copy, visit the department’s website at www.nhfirefighters.org.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com