On Monday, March 23, 2009 while returning Nesconset's Heavy Rescue 4-4-9 to the Department, Firefighter Brown was alerted by a passerby of a motor vehicle accident with a vehicle fire on Lakeland Avenue. Firefighter Brown arrived on scene prior to the arrival of the Lakeland Fire Department and found a victim trapped in a car with the engine compartment on fire. Without personal protective equipment, Firefighter Brown used a portable extinguisher to protect the occupant from the flames, which had now extended into the passenger compartment. Then, using  tools from 4-4-9, he initiated extrication operations along with Chief Michael Barbara of the Lakeland Fire Department. While Chief Barbara operated the extrication tools, Firefighter Brown continued using the extinguishers to protect the victim from fire that was venting from the engine compartment and coming from under the dashboard.

    For putting the safety of others ahead of his own personal safety and acting at great personal risk, Firefighter William Brown is hereby awarded the Silver Medal of Valor.

    Son of Irish immigrants Mary and Michael Moran, Dick was born in the Morrisiana section of the Bronx in 1937, the third of four brothers. He is a life member of the Bellport Fire Department Eagle Hose Company, with 39 years of service. He is still active, presently serving with the Fire Police Company.

    Dick is an Ex-Commissioner of the Bellport Fire Department, longtime Treasurer of the Bellport Benevolent Association and charter member of the Suffolk Fire Safety Educators Association. He has been a member of FASNY since 1989 and has been an active member of the Suffolk County Firefighters Emerald Society since 1994.

    In 1998 Dick retired from AT&T after 35 years of service as a Communications Technician. While working at AT&T he met and married his beloved wife Joan, whom he lost in 2007 after 41 years of marriage. He is the proud father of Sean Patrick Moran and the late William Michael Moran, who was an Ex-Chief of the Bellport Fire Department and a dedicated firefighter with FDNY Ladder 19 in the Morrisiana section of the Bronx.

    Dick extends his best regards to all Emerald Society members and friends and thanks them all for sharing many years of happy memories of "celebrating our Irish heritage."

    On Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 1:28 AM, the Hauppauge Fire Department was notified of a residential fire at 27 Village Lane. First arriving unit, 1st Assistant Chief Raymond Germaine, immediately transmitted a "working fire" with heavy fire from two exposures of a wood frame two story colonial. Assistant Chief Germaine was informed by a civilian that a person was trapped inside. Ray made an attempt to enter the residence through the front door but was forced back by intense heat and smoke conditions. A he exited the building, he observed Firefighter Thomas C. Kriklava on the roof of the overhang outside a second story bedroom. He too has been told of the trapped person and, with the help of a civilian, placed an 8 foot step ladder to the roof ledge. Firefighter Kriklava entered the home through the front window, followed by Assistant Chief Germaine. There were severe heat and smoke conditions present and both were without the benefit of protective gear or SCBAs. A search was conducted in the bedroom and an unconscious male was located on the floor between the bed and the wall. They removed the victim through the second story window and, aided by the civilian, handed him off to Fierfighters Giuliano and Sidik who carried the victim down the ladder to the front lawn. He was transferred to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital unconscious, suffering from smoke inhalation and second degree burns.

    Without regard for their own personal safety and at extreme personal risk, First Assistant Chief Raymond Germaine and Firefighter Thomas C. Kriklava are awarded the Gold Medal of Valor.

    Don's salaried career was "working on the railroad" – The Long Island Railroad. He started as a "fireman" on a locomotive and then became a locomotive engineer. He worked in the Training Division for 25 years and retired as the Director of Training in 2004. In addition to training L.I.R.R. employees, his responsibilities included training firefighters from FDNY, Nassau and Suffolk Counties on railroad safety. Corkery was also an instructor for the Suffolk County Fire Academy.

    Today he is an active Ex-Chief of his department and is the Blue Jays Drill Team "C" truck driver. Corkery is completing his fifth term as Fire Commissioner and is currently serving as 1st Vice President of the Suffolk County Fire District Officers Association.

    In his spare time, he rides his Harley Davidson Ultra motorcycle with the Riders of Fire Motorcycle Club. He enjoys NASCAR racing and golfing. He has been married to wife Laura for 35 years and the have two children, Brian and Kate.

    
    Bob is a retired Chief Fire Inspector for the Town of Huntington, the Senior Fire Inspector for the Melville Fire District, as well as an active member of numerous fire prevention organizations on the local, state, national, and international levels including the National Fire Protection Association, National Association of Fire Investigators, International Association of Arson Investigators, New York State Fire Service Council, New York State Fire Safety Consortium, Fire Inspectors Association of the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service Commission, Suffolk County Arson Task Force, and the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Fire Sub-Committee. He is a past president of the Fire Inspectors Association of Suffolk County, New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association, and Fire Marshals Association of North America.



    While serving as a rescue officer, Bob was an active member of the Nassau-Suffolk Rescue Association, the first fire service emergency medical training group on Long Island, and in 1971 was elected to a 2-year term as their President.



    In addition to his many firematic activities, Bob has also given time to his local community. He was a Co-Founder and Assistant Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 189 in Melville as well as a member of the Nathan Hale District Adult Training Committee for several years.

    Bob became a member of the Knights of Columbus in 1944 and was given the honor of being made a "Life Member" of that organization and is currently active in St. Elizabeth's Parish in South Huntington, serving as Lead Usher.



    The Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Emerald Society feels that Robert J. Earley, Sr. has earned the honor of being named our 2008 Irishman of the Year by his unselfish dedication to the fire service and the community at large.