MEMORIAL SERVICE

The SUPREME SACRIFICE

Memorial Monument

CLICK FOR DETAILS OF THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FIREFIGHTERS

Line of Duty (LOD) Poem by retired Assistant Chief Joseph Dayspring

December 3, 1938

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 19, 1939

Paterson News

March 12, 1941

Paterson erected a Firemen's Memorial to the honor of Paterson Firemen who lost their lives in the performance of their duty [Line of Duty Death (LODD)]. The monument was placed at Post Office Plaza (Dill Plaza) on March 12, 1941, which was then the third anniversary of the death of five heroic firemen who met death in the collapse of the Quackenbush warehouse. Immediately after that tragic occurrence, which saddened not only members of the fire department, but the entire populace of the city, the Morning Call sponsored a campaign for funds to honor the memory of these men and those who bravely met similar deaths before them.

Through the generosity of the business men and citizens generally. the fund was brought to a successful conclusion and the mission launched by the Morning Call was accomplished. The names of all the members of the Paterson Fire department who gave their lives upholding their oath to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Paterson were suitably inscribed upon the memorial and will serve forever as an honor to the brave men who died in the performance of a sacred duty, as well as in inspiration to their bereaved comrades who must and will carry on. Over time, historical research has discovered others who made the Supreme Sacrifice, including those who served Paterson's Volunteer Department and their names have been added

The first LODD firefighters listed on the Monument were:
FF Harry Kelley Engine 7
FF Captain William Cook Chemical Engine 1
FF Edward Tribe Engine 4
FF Marinus Baker Engine 1
FF David Johnstone Engine 8
FF John P. O'Neill Engine 9
FF Allen Saal Truck 3
Deputy Chief James Sweeney
Captain John Devenport Engine 5
FF Matthew O'Neill Engine 5
FF Louis Rodesky Engine 5
FF William Lynch Jr. Engine 5

Dayspring Collection

Paterson News coverage of the March 12 Memorial Dedication - published March 13, 1941

March 13 - Paterson News - Children are the 2 sons of LODD F/F Joseph O'Neil and daughter of F/F W Lynch

Morning Call Coverage

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 31, 1941: First Memorial Day program held at the Post office Plaza Monument

Brief prayers, a simple memorian service and the placing of a wreath of calla lilies at the base of the Firemen's monument marked yesterday, the Paterson's department tribute to their deceased comrades, whose names appear on the bronze plate as men of the department who gave their lives in the line of duty. During the week the Park's department, under the direction of Superintendent Robert McCrowe. had planted the plot with flowers. The firemen placed flags to surround the plot. Standing left tp right: Chief's driver John B. Murphy, Firemen Frank Earley and James Coyle, Capt James Chaplain, Capt. Frank Semento, Fireman George Lees and Chriss Glasser, then Rev. John T Merrick, fire chaplain; Chief Thomas L Coyle, The Rev. O.M. Demicott, fire chaplain; Fireman Thomas Scholfield, Battalon Chief James Troy, Firemen Harold Kane, Joseph Semas, Joe Craig, John Heffran and John Collins. Kneeling Fireman Robert Magee and Charles McGee.

May 31, 1941 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 1, 1942: Ceremony at the Post Office Plaza

Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 31, 1943: Amazing Memorial ceremony during height of WW II. Full details discussed in the news clip below. Interestingly the flagpole at Post Office Plaza was donated by the two sons of LODD firefighter John P. O'Neill.

At left are Chief Coyle, BC Kennedy & PFD Surgeon Dr Briody & FF Charles McGee in center - Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Chief Coyle standing in center -

May 31, 1944: Memorial Service at Monument at Post Office Plaza - With several chaplains are FF in photo L to R: Nicholas Attema, Stanley Kecmer, Edward Peters, Charles McGee, Eddie Westhoven, Chief Coyle, Captain Ed Heitzman, DC James Troy (future Chief), John Collins (FMBA President)

May 31 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 31 Paterson Evening News

June 1, 1948: Memorial Monument ceremony at Post office Plaza

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 29, 1949: Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza

May 31 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 28, 1951: Memorial Day service at Monument (at Post Office Plaza)

May 31, 1953 Memorial Day service at Monument (Federal Plaza by Post Office)

Commissioner Harry Gourley, Mayor Michael DeVita, Commissioner Robert Wagner, Reverend O,M, Demcott

June 2 Paterson News

May 30, 1954: Memorial Day service at Monument

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 1 Paterson News

May 30, 1955: Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza

May 31 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 31, 1956: Annual Memorial service at Post Office Plaza

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 30, 1960: Annual Memorial service at Post Office Plaza

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 26, 1961: Gathering to discuss the on May 28th Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza and the fellowship breakfast to follow at Eastside Presbyterian Church - L-R are Fred Ricciardi (FMBA President), PFD Chaplain Rev. James Boysell, George B Schwab, Captain Howard Schoonmaker and sitting front right is Battalion Chief George Findlow (it is not Chief Harold Kane as the clip states)

Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 31, 1961 service at Monument (Federal Plaza by Post Office)

May 27, 1962: Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 30, 1962: Firemen visit the grave of Louis Rodesky (LODD 1938) and other departed firefighters

May 24, 1964: Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza

May 26 Paterson News

May 25, 1965: Memorial Day service at Post Office Plaza

May 30, 1967: Annual Memorial at Post Office "Federal" Plaza

Color Guard: Future Chief John Mauro at left

Chief H Kane at left, AC Joseph Dayspring in center and AC Theodore Tice at right

Includes names of Mancinelli and Armona

May 25, 1969: Memorial Service at Post Office Plaza

May 27 Paterson News

L-R: Mayor Kramer, Chief Kane, AC Joseph Dayspring, Sister Loretta Agnes and AC Gerard Dugan

Front row - L-R: AC Joseph Dayspring, Sister Loretta Agnes and AC Gerard Dugan

Assistant Chief Joseph dayspring and Sister Loretta Agnes placing the floral wreath

Captain Fiore Malzone securing the flag

First ever mass at Fire Headquarters - Bishop Casey - Altar boy at right of the Bishop is Bob Dugan, son of Assistant Chief Gerard Dugan

March from Headquarters to Monument at Post Office Plaza

marching down Market Street to the Post Office Plasma

May 25, 1970: Post Office Plaza - Sister Hales (guest speaker) and Honorary BC Sister Loretta join he officials the Monument Ceremony

May 27, 1973: Annual Monument Ceremony - Chief Kane accepts a plaque for the Supreme Sacrifice of Captain Frank Mancinelli.

May 28m Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 29, 1975: Memorial Ceremony at the Monument - Post Office Plaza - Chiefs Kane and Forbes in photo

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

The monument was moved to the Hillcrest Firehouse at the corner of Union and Berkshire Avenue in 1982.

Monument at Hillcrest Firehouse

1994 Ball Book Photo with additional names (Thomas, Calamita and John Nicosia)

1995 Ball Book listing of Supreme Sacrifice - for first time the name of William W. Pikethley (LODD February 20, 1950) appears

June 6, 1999: Memorial Service at Hillcrest Firehouse

June 7 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 22, 2003: Memorial Service at Hillcrest Firehouse (Marty Pelta photos)

Chief Pasquariello in center

D/C Joe Murray, Chief Pasquariello, Lee Mondelli

Chief Pasquariello

(1) D/C Kevin Hancock, (2) ?, (3) D/C Michael Postorino, (4) Captain Harry Price, (5) Captain Michael D'Arco, (6) Captain Chuck Onorato, (7) Captain Bruce Vander Voort, (8) Captain William Henderson, (9) Captain Louis Velardi, (10) Captain Ed Olszewski, (11) Father John Piccione, (12) F/F Sean Burns, (13) B/C Mike Muccio. In 2nd row between (9 and 10) is Craig Lauten and between (10 & 11) is Armindo Cortez

D/C Joseph A. Murray

Father John Piccione

Lee Mondelli

Congressman Pascrell

Mayor Torres

? 2005 - 2006

Chief Postorino (appointed Chief 2005) - Hillcrest Firehouse

June 24, 2012: Memorial service at Hillcrest Firehouse

June 25 Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 1, 2014: At Hillcrest Firehouse

L-R in front: D/C Michael P Fleming, Richard Hodemaker and Kevin Hancock

June 7, 2015: Memorial Service at Hillcrest Firehouse

L-R in front: Captain Louie Roman, Captain Manny Rivera F/F Kevin Evans

Chief Postorino

June 5, 2016: The monument was refurbished and moved to the McBride Avenue Fire Headquarters and rededicated on . At this time the name of the 2 members of Paterson's Volunteer Department, 3 Call-men as well as an Auxiliary Firemen who had a LODD were added: FF Patrick Brophy, FF James Johnson, FF James Moser, Richard Duffy, Chris Murphy and William Conklin. The new Supreme Sacrifice total was 27.

June 6 Herald

Captain AJ Woods, firefighter Luis Vega, Captain Dave Molina, Captain Michael Walker, firefighter Ron Humphries, Captain Scott Parkin

The fire department has added a additional way of honoring those who have made the supreme sacrifice: A bell (formerly of Engine 1) on a wooden base with a memorial plaque: the bell will be re-chromed and the names of each of the 27 will be added. The base was finished and bell mounted by Captain Michael Tromellen's Father and the engraving was done by Captain Scott Parkin.

Engine 1 etched on top of bell

June 5, 2017: At the annual ceremony the 28th LODD name was added to the monument for FF Scott Rogow who died of injuries sustained in a fire on July 6. 2009.

Herald courtesy Dennis Morrison

December 2018 - T Dayspring photo

Updated Memorial Pin with #28

Honor Guard with new Ladder 3 in background

Assembled PFD Members between Ladders 3 and 2

420 was badge # of FF Scott Rogow - Master of Ceremonies Robert Allen

Deputy Chief Brian McDermott

Mrs Scott Rogow & Congressman Bill Pascrel

Firefighter Salute

Chief Michael Postorino and Deputy Chief Kevin Hancock (Chief of Operations)

Headquarters Plaque with 28 names

June 3, 2018: At the ceremony the name of 1938 LODD FF Edward Moore was added

Name of Edward J Moore added

FF Edward Moore (LODD 1938) added (29th name)

Memorial Pin updated to # 29

Honor Guard: L to R Ret Capt Joe Parkin Jr, F/F Kelly Powell. F/F Ron Humphries, F/F Josh Lopez, Capt AJ Woods, Capt Scott Parkin. Vince Marchese photo

Edward Moore's name added to plaque inside headquarters

2018 - with Edward Moore added - Plaque at Fire Headquarters on McBride Avenue

June 2, 2019: Annual Memorial Service at Fire Headquarters - 2 new LODD names added to the Monument - FF Robert Gedney and FF John C. Lair

Dayspring Photo

Now including names of Robert Gedney and John Lair - T Dayspring photo

Upper left side of Monument - T Dayspring photo

Upper right side of Monument - T Dayspring photo

Right lowr side of Monument - T Dayspring photo

Click on Photo to Enlarge

Master of Ceremony FF Robert Allen - Bill Tompkins Photo

Chief Brian McDermott - Bill Tompkins Photo

Mayor Sayegh - Bill Tompkins Photo

Congressman Pascrell - Bill Tompkins Photo

Names now total 31

Vince Marchese photo

Bill Tompkins photo

Bill Tompkins Photo

Caposella photo

Bugler Brian Stepneski - Bill Tompkins photo

Click Photos Below to Enlarge

Memorial Bell - T Dayspring Photo

BC Mike Caposella

Vince Marchese Photo

Captain AJ Woods and son Luca

Rescue 2 - quartered at Southside FH

Engine 7 - quartered at McBride Avenue

Plaque to hang inside Fire Headquarters - updated with FF Gedney and Lair added

October 4, 2020: Annual Memorial Service at Fire Headquarters was held (delayed because of COVID) - 2 new LODD names were physically added to the Monument on June 15. 2020 and celebrated at this ceremony - FF John Powers (1876) and Captain Josiah Barton (1928).

Ceremony also recognized F/F who passed away since the last ceremony in June 2019

Vincent Marchese photo

Replacement for stolen Nicosia plaque

D/C Michael Caposella and PFA President FF Frank Petrelli

June 4, 2021: Memorial Service with addition of 3 new names to Monument- Daniel Leonard, James McBennett and Leo Walsh - brings the total number of LODD Paterson FFs to 36.

Bill Tompkins Photos - CLICK HERE