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nfd2004

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Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
6,033
Lebby said:
The flag has been received
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Thanks Lebby for your effort in getting back that flag. I know that our good friend Frank M, “Manhattan” would thank you as well

Phillip, let me also add, my apology to you for spelling your last name and your user name wrong in my previous statements regarding the recovery and return of this flag

Please let me add, as many of us see it, you are not only a credit to this site but a credit to your generation and the FDNY/EMS as well
Thank you
 
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N

nfd2004

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Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
6,033
Maybe some of the members here might be able to help.

Now that the American Flag that Frank Meade (RIP) had donated to the FDNY/EMS has been recovered, Lebby has asked; "WHERE SHOULD IT GO" ?

I suggested it go back to the EMS Station where Frank had delivered it to. Along with the story of what happen and perhaps a few photos of Frank to keep in his honor for what he had done. Of course that would probably require approval of the higher ups.
 
IRISH

IRISH

Active member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
875
nfd2004 said:
Members of NYCFIRE, we have some very interesting news to tell you about some of our most popular, well known, highly respected members.

First Announcement;
Our good friend, Joe Materia, aka "mack" has "finally" joined the ranks of the Unemployed. "mack" has recently retired from his fulltime job at the U.S. Pentagon.
He began working in the Pentagon following a 37 year career with the United States Army retiring at the rank of Colonel. Joe, a West Point Graduate holds two Masters Degrees. As I understand it, Joe was also in charge of the U.S. Army Operations following the Attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Joe's father was a highly respected member of the FDNY War Years and retired at the rank of Battalion Chief. That is how Joe got interested in the fire service (FDNY) and he would often ride with his father in Coney Island, which was seeing it's own share of plenty of work in those days. Then later in Staten Island.

Joe's son is also a firefighter assigned to one of Boston's busiest Ladder Companies. His son as I understand it spent Three Tours in Iraq with the Special Forces. He also saved a woman's life who had her leg amputated after being hit at the Boston Marathon Bombing. Later both got married and their story was told on several television networks.

Joe, you certainly leave with an impressive resume. Thank you for all you have done for us and I greatly appreciate your friendship.

Now we move on to another highly respected and popular member known as "guitarman314". Of course I am talking about Tom Eve. A retired Post Office Supervisor as well as a very talented guitar player who played with some of the Most Popular Doo Wop groups of our time. In addition to that, Tom was very skilled with building fire truck models from scratch. He would be able to make an EXACT Model of any fire truck whether the FDNY or otherwise. Tom has made such hand crafted models for many members of this site.

Many of us here also know Tom on a personnel basis. He presents a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the history of FDNY Fire apparatus. We have seen that many times here on that site with his contributions.

Tom also grew up in the South Bronx during the FDNY War Years. As I understand, he was a buff who would have close ties to the members of Engine 60 and Ladder 17, some of the busiest FDNY companies in the city as the South Bronx was burning everyday and night.

Later Tom moved to Staten Island where he had made his home there until October 9th of this year (2020).
Tom Eve, aka "Gman", has moved to a sunny, warmer, St Cloud, Fla. No more snow and ice for him.
As I understand it, he is keeping his home at this time in S.I. and will be renting it out to one of his daughters.

Well Tom, I think you'll find yourself plenty of retired firefighters down there with you. I'm sure it won't take long and you may even find a few guys who maybe you remember from the old neighborhood.
We wish you all the Best Tom. Just keep in touch with us guys up here, okay.

Now just one more interesting note that I never knew before.

This site owner, "tbendick" as well as his associate, "truck4", grew up together as kids and went to school together. Both celebrate the same birthdays together. Both have a daughter and younger son of school age.
"tbendick" is now a Lt in the FDNY and "truck4" is now a Capt in the Yonkers Police Dept.

Well guys, for me it's time to go. I haven't done anything but eat and brush my teeth. It's now almost 3 pm. Remember earlier I told you being Old and Unemployed has some Advantages. Well Joe, "mack", you'll get used to it soon enough too, now that you are RETIRED.
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Joe "Mack" Apologies for being late to the party but congratulations on retirement. I hope you enjoy the days to come and please God when the covid is gone ill see you on this side of the pond

Also wishing GMan all the best in the sunnier South.
 
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nfd2004

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Jun 22, 2007
Messages
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Thank you Brad.

That picture tells a story that only "I", William Dennis, aka Willy D, can fully understand.

At this time I can NOT comment on "FREE DENNIS" painted on the side of that truck.

Some of you may also remember a photo posted on this site showing the words "Willy D NFD" on the bricked up front of the old quarters of Engine 48, then Salvage 3, on Webster Ave in the Bronx.

I can only say that at this point my attorneys are investigating and perhaps some of our nations highest security members.

And to think that it all started with that vacant firehouse picture posted by our good friend, "mack" on this site. The author of FDNY Firehouses and Fire Companies
 
M

mack

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Aug 8, 2009
Messages
8,568
IRISH said:
Joe "Mack" Apologies for being late to the party but congratulations on retirement. I hope you enjoy the days to come and please God when the covid is gone ill see you on this side of the pond

Also wishing GMan all the best in the sunnier South.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dec. We are all planning to visit you after COVID - all of us. Maybe we will stay.
 
IRISH

IRISH

Active member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
875
A very notable week this week for me in my Nycfire.net lifespan

8yrs ago this week was this first time I met up with group members.

"JohnD248" took me to visit his old house where he served as an Aux E248 in Flatbush and a tour of Brooklyn and of course later that day I got to meet up with our senior man Willy D "nfd2004"

The following day (after a slight scare with a communications issue) Willy D took me up to DaBronx to show me the sights and sounds with stop offs in Rescue 3 (thanks to Bob Athanas for the tour and Chief JK for setting up) and a tour on DaBronx Co and meeting The Beefman

It's was also the first time I buffed a fire in NYC a 2nd Alarm in Chinatown where I got to meet group friend Ret Rescue BC Don Hayde for the first time who has just come out of a 2nd floor window down a fire escape

Great memories
 
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johnd248

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Jul 14, 2007
Messages
4,010
I remember that day well, Irish. Amazing that you could navigate the NYC transit system to come all the way out to Flatbush.
 
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nfd2004

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Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
6,033
IRISH said:
A very notable week this week for me in my Nycfire.net lifespan

8yrs ago this week was this first time I met up with group members.

"JohnD248" took me to visit his old house where he served as an Aux E248 in Flatbush and a tour of Brooklyn and of course later that day I got to meet up with our senior man Willy D "nfd2004"

The following day (after a slight scare with a communications issue) Willy D took me up to DaBronx to show me the sights and sounds with stop offs in Rescue 3 (thanks to Bob Athanas for the tour and Chief JK for setting up) and a tour on DaBronx Co and meeting The Beefman

It's was also the first time I buffed a fire in NYC a 2nd Alarm in Chinatown where I got to meet group friend Ret Rescue BC Don Hayde for the first time who has just come out of a 2nd floor window down a fire escape

Great memories
Click to expand...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to our Irish Laddie Friend, Declan B., aka "Irish".

Wow, 8 years already Dec (Irish) since Johnny D., (johnd248) and I first got together when you flew over here to the Big Apple, aka NYC. Where you wanted to see what so many people considered the Greatest Fire Dept in the Country, maybe the World.

Yes, we stopped over at Rescue 3 where we got a tour of Rescue 3 given by the Senior Man, Bobby Athanas, thanks to Retired Chief Jack Kleehaas (68jk09). I was fortunate that just prior to that, our own Most Valuable Player of Nycfire.net, Mike Dick., (mikeindabronx) and myself had stopped by Rescue 3 and Mike introduced me to now Retired FDNY Member, Bobby Athanas.

We then made our way up to the Bronx Communications Office where together we both got to meet Bobby Engel, aka The Beefman, FDNY Dispatcher "Tree Tree Oh".

Over the years, Declan has spent a couple of days in NYC, joining several members of this site. Usually visiting several firehouses of the FDNY set up for us by Chief Kleehaas along with an Annual Reunion of the active and retired members of Eng 216/Lad 108/Batt 35. After that he also visited many friends and firefighters outside of the NYC area.
There we have also met Retired Chief of Dept., Chief Hayden, who I believe once worked at the old Seigel St firehouse.
Many of us have also become good friends with now Retired Battalion Chief Steve Ternlund, the key organizer of this event. A Great Gathering of both Active and Retired Firefighters from those companies. Thank you Chief Kleehaas and Chief Ternlund for welcoming us every year to this event.

We have also met Retired Deputy Fire Commissioner Bob Turner, a well respected member of the dept thanks to Chief Kleehaas.

Of course, we have also been very fortunate to have this site owner and administrator, Retired FDNY Captain John Bendick (jbendick), his son site owner Tommy Bendick (tbendick), and Nycfire administrator Mike M., (truck 4) set up events of interest for us. Along with Retired Chief Dispatcher Kenny Fisher (Atlas) who gave us a tour of some Staten Island companies and the Rockaways in Queens shortly after Storm Sandy and the fires that spread so fast during that storm.
We can NOT go on without another Special Thank to Joe Materia (mack) who helped organize some events, including a trip to the FDNY Museum, where we were given a tour by another friend and retired FDNY Member Lt Gary Howard who we learned had worked with Retired Chief Jack Kleehaas and Retired Capt John Bendick in some of FDNYs Busiest Companies, during those very busy years.

We must also give a Big Thanks to our own Nycfire member Dan Potter, (JohnnyGage), who has written some Great Stories under the title of Glory Days in the History section. Dan set up a Great tour for the members to visit his former firehouse Engine 88/Ladder 38. A beautiful firehouse with lots of history. (photos are posted previously here in News of Members). Dan also set up a visit for us to meet Deputy Chief Jay Jonas at Engine 48/Ladder 56/Division 7. Of course Chief Jonas the author of "Divison 7 Newsletter" posted by Mike Dick (mikeindabronx). We were also introduced to Retired B/C Ed Kearon who was B/C in the busy Batt 18 and later Battalion 2. Together we all enjoyed a great dinner in a GREAT, Little Italian Restaurant on Author Ave in the Belmont section of the Bronx.

So many GREAT GUYS have welcomed us "foreigners" into the world of the FDNY on a personnel level. Every one here I mention has been great to all of us. Of course there's so many others too, who we have met along the way in our visits to these firehouse and places of interest. I've also had the privilege to sit down and talk with FDNY Retired Chief Bob Manson, (*******) who was the Captain of Engine 82 when the book, "Report from Engine 82" came out, as he told me a few stories.

Well getting back to Our Irish friend Declan, Dec has taken part in some of the Tunnel to Towers events held in NYC. But without a doubt in our minds, his most famous event that WE WILL NEVER FORGET is the time that Mr Irish himself fell asleep as a very pretty young lady tried several times to engage him in conversation. Meanwhile every one of us more senior, single members just wished that she came over in our direction. But that didn't happen and NOTHING Ever Happened with this young lady and the Irish Laddie Himself.

But Declan knows that we ALL GREATLY Appreciate his company whenever he comes to the NYC area.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Dec, aka "Irish".
 
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