LYNDHURST, NJ - Officers and members of the New Jersey & New York Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc., held their 108th annual convention at Lyndhurst Fire Headquarters, June 2nd.

Latest accomplishments of the association have included a presentation by Montvale on their developing SOG on E-battery vehicle fires on the Garden State Parkway, plus another very successful memorial service with over 200 attendees at the Bergen County Public Safety Institute in Mahwah.

“This association offers so much for all departments to take advantage of and to grow from,” said outgoing President Roy DeYoung, Jr. 

On this June evening, the association continued their college scholarship program by awarding a total of $8000 in scholarships to students that will assist them in their college education.  

In addition, there were awards presented for life saving, service, and 50-years service awards. 

Joseph Solimando, Jr., a 52-year member of the Emerson Fire Department, received the Rudy Appeld Award. An outgoing treasurer's award was given to George E. Saigh for over 25-years of service. The outgoing assistant treasurer's award for over 20-years of service was presented to Alan Silverman. 

A unit citation was presented to members of the Hackensack Fire Department for their life-saving actions at an apartment house fire on December 26th, 2022. In addition, a check was presented to the firefighters for the Hackensack Widows and Orphans Fund. A presidential life saving award went to the Grezda family for their life-saving actions taken on January 16th, 2023, at a fire in the Secaucus complex where they reside. They self-evacuated, during the early morning fire, and notified other residents that there was a fire. 

The Larry Rauch Memorial Training Scholarship was presented to the Saddle Brook and Haworth Fire Departments.

Outgoing President DeYoung turned over his gavel to President Bryan Hennig. The new president said he was also celebrating his 42nd year as a member of the Lyndhurst Fire Department.

Other officers include: 1st V.P. Anthony Chiodo, 2nd V.P. Richaed Neerhout, Secretary Rosemary Weyer, Ass't Secretary Nancy Naylis, Treasurer Peter Biscoe, Ass't Treasurer Peter DeVries, Financial Secretary John Schwedhelm and Ass't Financial Secretary Jeffery Guenther.