Memorial Day is always met with mixed emotions. We pause to remember military personnel who died in the line-of-duty, paying the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. We also remember first responders and fellow firefighters who died while responding to or working within an emergency call. We are thankful for our lives, freedom and ability to come together, respectful of those who have gone before us.
The 2014 Memorial Day had added meaning for the Highland Park Volunteer Fire Department. This year Memorial Day fell on the same day, May 26th, that two of HPVFD’s Bravest perished while fighting a fire, 56 years ago.
Frank R. Molimock Jr. and William C. Graff died while fighting a massive fire at the site of the old Ten Broeck Motors on Woodbridge Avenue. Molimock Jr. & Graff were working on the roof during the blaze when it collapsed. Neither survived the fall or fire inside. We are forever grateful and mournful for these two heroes and take time each Memorial Day to remember them, along with John Quinn. Quinn suffered a heart attack while fighting a fire in town in 1948.
There are numerous memorial sites within Highland Park that remember the fallen firefighters. A small service, led by HPVFD Ex-Chief & current Chaplain John Byrne was held at each site. A memorial wreath was placed at each site and members of the Highland Park Council spoke. Special thank you to Elsie Foster-Dublin, Padraic Millet, Susan Welkovits and Gary Potts for attending and giving kind words.
Following the services, we took some pictures of the apparatus and members, all dressed in Class A Uniforms. Its been a while since we took some pictures of the full line of apparatus and large group pictures of the members.
The day wrapped up with a parade from New Brunswick through Highland Park, concluding with services at the intersection of Raritan & Woodbridge Avenues at 6th – the famous Doughboy Statue in town.
Thank you to all the members of the Highland Park Volunteer Fire Department who cleaned apparatus and participated in the services & parade this year. Special thanks to HPVFD Captain Tim Langan, HPVFD Engineer Dan Thompson & Shayne Thompson for pictures. Special thanks also to the Highland Park First Aid Squad and the Highland Park Police for participating in the morning services along with us – your support & assistance is appreciated as always.
For more pictures from the day please visit our Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.296879453808627.1073741850.162883673874873&type=1
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