Fort Montgomery Fire Department celebrates 87 years
If there was a theme at Saturday evening’s Fort Montgomery Fire Department’s installation and awards dinner, it was ‘family’.
That theme was evident in the remarks made, in the number of families who have multiple firefighters in them, and in the distribution of awards and recognitions to firefighters.
While officers were installed at the dinner, the highlight was the awards. And of the awards, the highlight was the tribute paid to two 50 year members, Mark Reynolds and Tom Armstrong. Dave Tonneson, also a 50 year member, spoke about the two.
“In 1969 three things happened,” Tonneson told the crowd at the West Point Club. “I was elected as chief of the department, the voters approved us buying a Diamond Rio pumper — that served us well for 36 years — and two young men joined the fire department, Tom and Mark.”
Often in fire service, he said, people come and go after five years. But sometimes, he said, people stay ten years, and “at that point figure this isn’t so bad”.
“And after 25 years, they say ‘I can do this’ and they plan on sticking around for awhile,” he said.
Tonneson said every fire department needs “some new young members, some middle-aged experienced members and a least a few wise old men and women”.
Tonneson continued: “Fifty years have come and gone, but two things have remained steady in the Fort Montgomery Fire Department, Mark and Tom.”
Each of the two received a large framed photo of their favorite fire trucks, Reynolds a 1956 Ford that the department still has, and Armstrong, Engine 422. They were also given large firefighter figurines, plaques, rounds of applause, and a handful of certificates, from the NYS Assembly and Senate, Orange County Legislature and Executive, Hudson Valley Firemans Association, Firemen’s Association of New York State and Orange County Volunteer Fireman’s Association. Their wives, Gail Reynolds and Chris Armstrong, were presented with flowers, for the time they gave up as their husbands served the Town of Highlands.
The two join a small club of four others who are also 50+ year members.
Several other firefighters were honored for their years of service:
Five years – Patty Steinmetz, Victor Porro, Donna Salva, Steve Snavely, Jenn Rose; 10 years – Matthew Biehle; 20 years – Thomas WW Armstrong; 25 years – Seth Armstrong; and 30 years – Glenn Corbin Jr.
Life membership — given only to 25+ year department members, and voted upon by all members of the department — was bestowed upon Seth Armstrong.
His son, also Seth Armstrong, was honored as the department’s outgoing mascot, having served in that role for the past five years.
Tommy Armstrong, the current captain of the department, took a minute at the event to address his fellow firefighters directly, talking about the proud history of the department.
“I am humbled when I see the work ethic that our new generation exhibits in training and calls. They are here serving the community, juggling their academic and social lives, all while people their age are just beginning to figure out who they are. I am humbled by our senior members, often sacrificing time with their families to ensure we get a truck out the door to help someone in need or to properly train for the next trial we face. I am humbled and overflowing with pride knowing that I serve this community by all of your sides,” he said.
“I am also grateful. I am grateful to our older generation for taking the time to teach me when I was young, and continuing to guide me now that I am old. I am grateful when I see our newer members perform as a unit when on a call because they took their training seriously. Because they took our mission seriously. I am grateful to get up out of my bed at 2 a.m. to go to an unknown emergency because I have you all by my side. While it may be another call to us, to someone, just our presence at what could be the worst day of their lives makes all the difference.”
The FMFD holds its banquets every other year, so two years worth of awards were given out, as follows:
2017’s Rookies of the Year were Tyler Walko, Derrick Maher, Connor Salva and Levi Perez.
2017’s Firefighters of the Year were Lee and Patty Steinmetz, with additional recognition given to Eric and DeeDee Weber.
2018’s Rookie of the Year was Matthew Schmidt.
2018’s Firefighter of the Year was Ryan Falk.
A special 2018 Appreciation Award was given to Jason Bacchus, for the outstanding attention he gives to cleaning the fire trucks.
Installed as officers were:
Firematic: Chief Don Smith, Assistant Chief Ryan Falk, Captain Tommy Armstrong, 1st Lieutenant Victor Porro, 2nd Lieutenant Rich Salva and Medical Officer Lee Steinmetz Sr.
Administrative: President Patty Steinmetz, Vice President Seth Armstrong, Treasurer Dave Tonneson, Financial Secretary Don Marshall, Recording Secretary Donna Salva, and Trustees Lee Steinmetz, Carrie Smith, Lee Steinmetz Jr., Mascot Elizabeth Corbin.
Commissioners: Chairman Mickey Cahill, Andrew Lynch, Rich Salva, John Monteleone and Anthony Camp.
