NEW YORK—The 200 Club of Middlesex County recently gave out valor awards to eight firefighters of the Edison Fire Department. The eight firefighters turned around and gave the cash part of the awards to the New Jersey Firemen's Home, a nursing home dedicated to the attention of aged and disabled New Jersey firefighters.
The eight Edison firefighters were lauded for three different incidents in 2007 in which they dashed into burning buildings to rescue unconscious victims trapped inside.
—March 29, 2007: Lieutenant Joseph Horvath and Firefighters Milton Asprocolas and Hared Shulamn rescued a victim at a structure fire at Lydia Lane.
—June 2, 2007: Lieutenant Kenneth Milcsik and Firefighter William Doherty removed an old man from a burning building at 82 Plainfield Avenue
—December 2, 2007: Lieutenant Duane Borwegen and firefighters Phillip McManus and William Pellegrino rescued a woman from a structure on fire at 12 Lily Court.
All eight firefighters decided to forego their awards and instead give it to members of the home who include 67-year-old Art Gibson, 94-year-old Jim Byrne, and 67-year-old Bob Cuess.
The ceremony, attended by representatives from the Edison Fire Fighters Association and Edison Paid Fire Officers Association, was held at Edison's Fire Station 2. A larger-than-life check for $1600 was presented to the New Jersey Firemen's Home.
President of the Edison Firefighters Association Robert Yackel praised the move. "This is a great example of the fraternal and unique nature of the fire service."
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