MONTICELLO — Twenty-four fallen heroes from 14 fire departments around the county were honored with posted colors, saluted hands and ceremonial flowers, as the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Association (SCVFA) offered their 64th annual memorial service on Sunday, May 5.

Bagpipes by Dustin Graham and rings of the traditional bell by past SCVFA president Don Sherwood greeted family members of the honored deceased, who accepted bouquets handed out by Lauren O’Connor and SCVFA President Craig Burkle which were destined to lay next to the floral wreath presented by SCVFA officials. Prayers, including the Fireman’s Prayer, were offered for the souls of those lost in the previous year.

Those honored were organized by their department in which they served, along with the amount of years dedicated to the fire service:

Beaverkill Valley

William Backman, 

firefighter – 68 years 

Callicoon

Frank Hahn, 

Past Chief – 60 years 

Forestburgh

William “Billy” Steinberg, 

Asst. Fire Chief – 22 years (LODD)

Hankins/Fremont

Dennis W Bernitt, 

Past Chief – 30 years 

Kauneonga Lake

Jay Meddaugh Sr., 

Life member – 63 years

Liberty 

William Cogswell, 

Past Chief – 60 years 

Donald Nichols, 

Past Chief – 60 years 

William Weston, 

member – 45 years 

Livingston Manor

George Lots, 

firefighter – 8 years 

Vince Barotti, 

firefighter – 3 years 

Monticello 

Matt Monroe, 

firefighter – 23 years 

George (Butch) Gregory, 

Past Chief – 60 years 

Neversink

Howard Petro, 

Past Chairman – 50 years 

Rockhill

Harold Hoyt, 

Past Chief – 63 years 

Woodridge 

Jared L. Project, 

Commissioner/Captain – 30 years 

Wurtsboro

Ronnie Croce, 

Fire Police – 20 years 

James Arnott Jr., 

Past President – 20 years

Joel Walsh, 

Past President/Secretary – 61 years 

Youngsville

Paul E. Hubert, 

firefighter – 60 years 

Joseph W. Nosek, 

Past Chief, President, Treasurer, Commissioner, Past President and Treasurer for the SCVFA – 55 years

William P. Niemann, 

Past Chief, President, Treasurer, Commissioner, Fire Police Captain – 57 years

Phillip T. Dutcher,

firefighter, driver, Past Treasurer – 15 years

Yulan 

John Komar, 

member – 57 years

Frank Getz, 

Fire Police Captain – 36 years

Speakers for the ceremony included SCVFA President Craig Burkle, George (Shorty) Strumpfier with the Pledge of Allegiance, Albee Bockman with the National Anthem, 1st Vice President Rob Trotti, Jr., Pastor Michael Carter with Community Church of Wurtsboro, Treasurer Joe Mellan and 3rd Vice President Al Dumas with the Members, and Fireman’s prayers respectively. 

The honor guard for the ceremony consisted of fire departments from Battalion Number 4, which included Forestburgh, Kauneonga Lake, Smallwood/ Mongaup Valley, Swan Lake and White Lake. Ceremonial ladder trucks were manned by Callicoon and Roscoe fire departments.