“We never knew that,” some firefighters admitted after hearing the opening remarks at the Highland Engine Company dinner. The event was held at the fire house on March 14.
Serving as master of ceremonies, Chief Pat Hines began his welcome with a brief history of the company. It was formed in 1830 when 18 people paid $2.50 in dues, and purchased a hand pumper from a fire company in Brooklyn. It wasn’t until later that the volunteers added wheels.
Since then, 790 individuals have become members. Few, if any, of them have served longer than George Halvorsen and Joe Ward. They joined when they were 21, which was then the minimum age for membership, and have remained members for 64 years. They were both at the dinner dance on Saturday night.
Six of their fellow members were missing, but they had a plausible excuse. Laura Lapre is serving in the Army, Brian Kane and Ben Hinderman are part of the Air National Guard, Ryan Smith and Michael Ambrosino are in the Air Force, and Michael DeRosa Jr. is in Afghanistan.
Three Highland Engine Co. firefighters have died in the line of duty, and a fourth (Ken Kumpel, a member of NY Ladder Company 14) perished in the rescue effort at the World Trade Center.
Two awards were presented at the dinner. Bill Goldsmith won the President’s Award for filling in for the president while Kerry McGuinness was attending Town Board meetings. And Dan Dulaney got the Captain’s Award for being the leading responder and mentoring the newer firefighters.
The Storm King Engine Company was on standby on Saturday evening, and answered two calls on behalf of the company that was celebrating.
Cornwall Fire Dept.: Patrick Hines (chief), Autavis Graham (assistant chief)
Fire commissioners: Alexander Vanacore, William Lee, Kevin Hines, Robert D’Arrigo, Robert Schimph (secretary), Gary Rank (treasurer)
Highland Engine officers: J. Kerry McGuinness (president), William Goldsmith (vice president), Brian Bacher (secretary), Kevin Hines (treasurer), Dan Spangler (sergeant at arms), Rev. Stephen J. Racite (pastor), Keven Smith (1st lieutenant), Stephen Wersebe (2nd lieutenant)
Trustees: Alexander Vanacore, James Basher, Robert Pinder, Dan Dulaney, Joseph Halvorsen, Tony Ambrosino, Daniel Spangler
Top responders: Dan Dulaney, Jim Basher, Mike LoBlanco, Brendan Doyle, Dan Spangler
New honor members: Jerry Jaeger (Mountainville), Steve Looser (Nyack) and Stephen Smith (Washingtonville)
