Sunday, November 15, 2009 was a unique day in the 118 year history of the West Sayville Fire Department. Not only did the fire department and West Sayville-Oakdale Fire District dedicate the new addition to its Headquarters station, but they also celebrated the seventy-five years of service of past captain, now honorary chief, Charles E. Peppard. The tie between the two is the bridge that Chief Peppard provides between the original truck house of the West Sayville Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 built in 1892, its replacement structure erected in 1931 and the addition itself for he is likely the only living member to have stepped foot in all three iterations of the Headquarters station.

The hour long dedication and recognition ceremony kicked off at 1:00 p.m. in the apparatus bays of the new 17,000 square foot addition before a capacity crowd of local residents, friends of the fire department and elected officials as well as a large contingent of West Sayville and surrounding community emergency responders in full dress uniform. Following an invocation by Department Chaplain George Munkenbeck and re-marks by Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman William J. Savino, Sr., Reverend Brian Noack of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sayville Fire Department Chaplain offered a blessing for the new addition and the ceremonial ribbon was cut. Joining in that last effort were Chairman Savino, West Sayville Fire Department Chief Kelly M. Barnes, the most senior past board member Nicholas Paglia, the most senior ex-chief Stanley A. Thuma, the most senior firefighter Charles Peppard and the newest member Firefighter Casey Quinn.

At that point Chief Barnes transitioned the program to the recognition of the day’s honoree by offering a detailed synopsis of Honorary Chief Peppard’s eight years in the West Sayville Juveniles (now known as the junior fire department) and the seventy-five years that followed as a member and past captain in West Sayville. Immediately ensuing was a litany of presentations from the fire department including an honorary chief’s helmet and badge, the Ex-Chiefs’ Organization, the Fire Police Company, the West Sayville Junior Fire Department, the Board of Fire Commissioners, the Islip Town Fire Chiefs’ Council and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. Also joining in to offer accolades were Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and Councilman Gene Parrington, County Legislator William Lindsay, New York State Assemblywoman Ginny Fields, New York State Senator Brian X. Foley, Brian Culhane on behalf of New York State Senator Owen Johnson and Beth Gabellini of United States Congressman Steve Israel’s office. Nancy Peppard, Honorary Chief Peppard's daughter, closed out the program with reminisces of growing up in West Sayville across the street from the firehouse oblivious to the siren and by extending words of gratitude for the recognition of her dad’s accomplishment.

The day’s festivities ended out with the opportunity to view the fire department’s newly expanded home from the inside as well as buffet luncheon in the former gymnasium of the original portion of the building and musical entertainment by South of Sun-rise band.

Firefighter Casey Quinn, Seventy-five Year Member and Honorary Chief Charles E. Peppard, Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman William J. Savino, Sr., most senior Past Commissioner and Past Chief Nicholas Paglia, most senior Past Chief Stanley A. Thuma and Chief Kelly M. Barnes make the ceremonial ribbon cut to officially open the two-story, 17,000 square foot addition to the Headquarters station of the West Sayville Fire Department on Sunday, November 15, 2009. (Photo by Ex-Chief Harry D’Onofrio)


West Sayville Fire Department Assistant Chiefs Lucus Domingo, Robert Doucet and Joseph Schroeder join with Chief Kelly M. Barnes to offer their congratulations to Seventy-five Year Member and Ex-Captain Charles E. Peppard who was named Honorary Chief on Sunday, November 15, 2009 as part of the Headquarters addition dedication ceremony.
(Photo by Ex-Chief Harry D’Onofrio)
 

Contact: Chief Kelly M. Barnes
631-567-9464