thedrifter
05-26-08, 09:04 AM
Newsday.com
Firefighters pay moving tribute to departing Marines
BY JENNIFER BARRIOS
jennifer.barrios@newsday.com
9:14 AM EDT, May 26, 2008
The Marines did not go quietly into the Garden City night. Hundreds of Long Island firefighters made sure of that.
The firefighters, complete with dozens of fire trucks with flashing lights, assembled outside the Marine reserve base in Garden City at about 2 a.m. on Monday -- all to cheer and salute those from the Second Battalion, 25th Marine Division who were leaving for a tour of duty in Iraq.
"We're trying to give support to these men and women going over in harm's way," said Danny O'Keefe, chief of the Stewart Manor Fire Department and one of the main organizers of the event. "Some of these guys might not be ready, might not be sure, and we're saying we're supporting you."
Outside the base, fire trucks raised their ladders, creating an archway of American flags across Stewart Avenue. Firefighters -- most in their work clothes, some in their dress uniforms -- stood before their trucks that lined the streets.
Lance Corporal Mark Dumelle, 27, of Stony Brook, stood near his rucksack at the base, waiting to board one of the big yellow buses that were to take the Marines to the airport. It was Dumelle's first deployment to Iraq. He called the firefighters' send-off "amazing." "To come out at 2 o'clock in the morning, to take the extra effort is just astounding," he said.
Outside the gates, family members gathered, holding signs, flags and cups of coffee. Mike Dolan, wearing a bright yellow Marines sweatshirt, was one of them. His son, Mike Dolan, Jr., was one of the Marines leaving that day. Dolan is a former chief of the New Hyde Park Fire Department; his son, 25, now belongs to the same department.
"It's encouragement – show Nassau County what we're doing for our soldiers," Dolan said. "They don't want to leave at 3 o'clock in the morning and no one sees them."
Lt. Col. Joe Nelson of the battalion said the early-morning hours – and the fact that the Marines were deploying on Memorial Day -- was due to the schedule they received from JFK and La Guardia airports.
The first few buses left the base at almost 4 a.m., headed for the airport, where the Marines planned to board planes headed for a training base in California before ultimately ending up in Iraq. The buses drove slowly, illuminated by the bright lights of a hundred fire trucks. Inside, Marines peered out the windows, smiling at the applause.
For Corporal Dennis Torres of Valley Stream, Monday's deployment marks his second tour of duty in Iraq. The first time he left Long Island to go to war, there was nothing like this.
"It's motivation," said the 23-year-old, calling the send-off "a moment I'll definitely remember over there. It definitely will help."
Ellie
Firefighters pay moving tribute to departing Marines
BY JENNIFER BARRIOS
jennifer.barrios@newsday.com
9:14 AM EDT, May 26, 2008
The Marines did not go quietly into the Garden City night. Hundreds of Long Island firefighters made sure of that.
The firefighters, complete with dozens of fire trucks with flashing lights, assembled outside the Marine reserve base in Garden City at about 2 a.m. on Monday -- all to cheer and salute those from the Second Battalion, 25th Marine Division who were leaving for a tour of duty in Iraq.
"We're trying to give support to these men and women going over in harm's way," said Danny O'Keefe, chief of the Stewart Manor Fire Department and one of the main organizers of the event. "Some of these guys might not be ready, might not be sure, and we're saying we're supporting you."
Outside the base, fire trucks raised their ladders, creating an archway of American flags across Stewart Avenue. Firefighters -- most in their work clothes, some in their dress uniforms -- stood before their trucks that lined the streets.
Lance Corporal Mark Dumelle, 27, of Stony Brook, stood near his rucksack at the base, waiting to board one of the big yellow buses that were to take the Marines to the airport. It was Dumelle's first deployment to Iraq. He called the firefighters' send-off "amazing." "To come out at 2 o'clock in the morning, to take the extra effort is just astounding," he said.
Outside the gates, family members gathered, holding signs, flags and cups of coffee. Mike Dolan, wearing a bright yellow Marines sweatshirt, was one of them. His son, Mike Dolan, Jr., was one of the Marines leaving that day. Dolan is a former chief of the New Hyde Park Fire Department; his son, 25, now belongs to the same department.
"It's encouragement – show Nassau County what we're doing for our soldiers," Dolan said. "They don't want to leave at 3 o'clock in the morning and no one sees them."
Lt. Col. Joe Nelson of the battalion said the early-morning hours – and the fact that the Marines were deploying on Memorial Day -- was due to the schedule they received from JFK and La Guardia airports.
The first few buses left the base at almost 4 a.m., headed for the airport, where the Marines planned to board planes headed for a training base in California before ultimately ending up in Iraq. The buses drove slowly, illuminated by the bright lights of a hundred fire trucks. Inside, Marines peered out the windows, smiling at the applause.
For Corporal Dennis Torres of Valley Stream, Monday's deployment marks his second tour of duty in Iraq. The first time he left Long Island to go to war, there was nothing like this.
"It's motivation," said the 23-year-old, calling the send-off "a moment I'll definitely remember over there. It definitely will help."
Ellie