By Alyssa Harper
The Uniondale Fire Department celebrated 100 years of service with a parade and block party through the rainy weather in Uniondale on the evening of Sept. 28.
The department’s four engine companies—Emergency Company No. 1, Brookside Engine Company No. 2, Manor Company No. 3 and Protection Company No. 4—cruised their firetrucks down the barricaded Uniondale Avenue, sounding their ambulance sirens, flashing their lights and beeping their horns at dozens of watchers lined up on the sidelines. Firefighters marched and waved in front of the trucks in the street, as a band of bagpipe players performed alongside them.
The parade began at 5 p.m. at Brookside Engine fire station on Park Avenue and ended at the Sherman Van Ness Fire Station, with a block party to continue the festivities. The marchers included dozens of junior firefighters, guard members from Companies No. 2, 3 and 4 and department chiefs: Chief George Martinez, First Assistant Chief Kevin Hicks and Second Assistant Chief Joseph Rodriguez.
Parade attendee Michael Cardona, 58, who now resides in Delaware, was once a member of Company 2 for several years. Over the weekend, he traveled up to Long Island for the anniversary celebration, still taking pride as a life member of the department. Cardona said that most station members are volunteers who dedicate their time to serving others—even in the middle of the night.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Cardona said. “It’s something I wanted to do, that I didn’t get paid for, nor did I want to. It was something I enjoyed.”
// Photo by Alyssa Harper /Long Island Advocate
Following the parade, the block party featured carnival attractions and entertainment, a BBQ food truck, a Hawaiian food truck and other local food vendors with dishes including hamburgers, hotdogs, funnel cake, cotton candy, popcorn and more.
// Photo by Alyssa Harper /Long Island Advocate
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be a part of all this,” said Martinez, who was also the event coordinator. “I never would’ve imagined this when I was younger, being a part of this organization myself.”
Andrews Flores, 19, is a new probationary member of Company No. 2. Though he has only served the community for less than a year, Flores said he felt inspired to follow in the footsteps of the department’s senior firefighters and is honored to be apart of their traditions.
“The past generation has shown the ropes to the next generation,” said Flores, a former member of Nassau County’s Junior Firefighters Association (NCJFA). “One hundred years later and we are still standing. It’s a prideful moment.”
The NCJFA is a program for middle school and high school students to learn about the fire service and participate in training with the department before officially joining after graduation.
“They’ve always been able to come and help out and be there,” said attendee and Uniondale resident Brynn Overton.
“People keep joining and joining and it’s good to see that the brotherhood’s still around,” Overton said.
Jasmine Sellars contributed to this story.
