Annual installation dinner was at the fire house on Saturday
It’s hard to forget July 9, 2023 if you live in the Town of Highlands.
And, at last Saturday evening’s annual Highland Falls Fire Department installation dinner, those who had put the awful day of flooding behind them may have been forced to relive it a little bit.
Why? Because in addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the members of the department, as is usually on the agenda for the celebratory evening, Chief Erik Smith and President Clarissa Marvin had invited representatives of nearly a dozen other fire departments who were so vital in helping the Highland Falls community with the immediate recovery of the July 9 flooding.
“The flood was the defining moment of the year for us,” Smith said. “We had never seen anything like that before.”
Speaking to the other firefighters in the room, he likened it to training exercises where the instructors put forth an “impossible situation” to be solved.
“Only this was worse,” Smith said, recounting the very first flooded basement call that July 9 afternoon. That call nearly immediately turned into days-weeks-months of misery for many community residents.
“Water was coming in at an incredible pace, and we were cut off from everyone else,” he said. The HFFD, West Point and Fort Montgomery Fire Departments, “along with good samaritans coming out of their houses.”
But then, just after the rain had stopped almost as quickly as it started, state crews got some roads cleared, and firefighters from other Hudson Valley communities started showing up. Smith, with the assistance of Assistant Chief Steve Suarez, presented representatives of those departments with certificates and HFFD challenge coins. They included: Arlington, LaGrange, Pine Bush, Cronomer Valley, New Windsor, Goodwill, Dan Leghorn and Salisbury Mills. They also thanked representatives of Orange County Emergency Services — while they couldn’t get here because of the road closures, they facilitated much of the help that came.
“We really did feel the love and the support,” Smith said, “it took a ton of ingenuity, teamwork and bravery to get through those few days.”
While outsiders were lauded for their help, the true stars of the night were members of the HFFD.
Marvin gave her annual President’s Award to Billy Solan for his willingness to help in any way he could, year round, she said. Smith gave Solan a special recognition as well — Firefighter of the Year — noting that Solan happened to be out of town when the flooding started on July 9, but somehow managed to get back. Smith said he worked all day, and then early the next morning was back at the firehouse, made coffee for everyone and then went out to help some more.
“Being a chief is difficult,” Smith said, “but people like Billy make it easier. He does so much for this department.”
The Rookie of the Year award was harder to give out this year than usual, Smith said, because the department had 11 new members. One stood out, though, Klarissa Sisco. Her first day ‘on the job’ happened to be July 9, Smith said, and she performed well.
“I asked her how she was at the end of that day,” he said, “and she said she was really happy to be able to help the people of the community when they needed her most.”
Smith gave a special recognition to one of his officers, Alex Lennon, who took the lead with the department’s rookies, not only on July 9, but throughout the year.
The Chief’s Award went to Matt Troy, “a new, old member,” Smith said, who came back to the HFFD after being drawn out of his house to help on July 9. “He saw we needed him, and there he was. And he always has a smile on his face.”
Once Smith sat down — he apologized to the audience more than once for taking a long time in handing out awards — Suarez had him stand right back up and presented him with a large plaque thanking him for his leadership throughout the years.
There were three service awards given out at the dinner: Kevin D’Onofrio received a plaque celebrating his 40th year with the department, and Harrison Cruse and William O’Dell’s 25th years of service were recognized with plaques.
Former HFFD Chief Mickey Lee, now an Orange County Deputy Fire Coordinator, officially swore the officers into their roles at the dinner. The department’s current officers are:
Firematic
Chief Erik Smith, Assistant Chief Steve Suarez, Captain John Rush, 1st Lt. Alexandra Lennon and 2nd Lt. Jesse Marvin.
Administrative
President Clarissa Marvin, Vice President John Rush, Secretary Lynn Heuler, Treasurer William Solan, Financial Secretary Arla James, Property Officer Anthony Stevens, Mascot Catalina Aquirre
Board of Directors
Chairman Kevin D’Onofrio, Patrick Kelly, Kenneth Conley, Erik Smith, Harvey Green, John Rush, James DiSalvo, Steve Suarez
