First responders given a big 'thank you' from the Morrisville community, judge commends them for 'courage, bravery and fortitude'
MORRISVILLE BOROUGH – Celebratory and mobilized, borough residents shared a hot meal and a zillion deserts at the Morrisville First Responders Luncheon where the unsung heroes were given a great big ‘Thank you’ for all that they do.
The senior center was brimming with friends, family and neighbors as members of the Morrisville Fire Department, Morrisville Ambulance Squad and the Morrisville Police Department were recognized by the grassroots community organization, Morrisville First.
Almost 100 folks turned out for the get-together on Sunday, July 21 where the community came together to celebrate the men and women who serve.
Chairperson of the event was Stephanie Vallango. Co-chairs were Susan Krushenski and Andrea Masisak.
Vallango said this was the first event for first responders of its kind in town.
“Today, we are honoring our hometown heroes – our first responders,” she said. “By honoring them we wanted to have a luncheon.”
Vallango thanked the local heroes who put their lives in danger every day and help during emergencies.
“They’re there for us,” she said. “They protect us. They serve our community.”
Krushenski said she volunteered to help make the community’s luncheon happen because the first responders are the backbone of the town.
“I love Morrisville,” she said. “I want to see Morrisville Borough be the best it can be.”
Donna Griff, community development coordinator for Morrisville First, thanked Vallango, Krushenski and Masisak for “pulling things together” for the luncheon.
Mike Burns, district magisterial judge, was the speaker. He presented commendations from Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick to the ambulance squad and the fire company.
Vallango presented them with plaques from Morrisville First.
Fitzpatrick sent the police department an American flag that was flown over the nation’s capital.
Each of the three groups received checks for $250 from Morrisville First.
Burns said he is “constantly amazed by the courage, bravery and fortitude that first responders display every day. And I’m even more in their gratitude when I realize that for first responders this is just part of a day’s work.”
He said the level of preparation, training, discipline and experience that first responders must acquire is great. “The commitment to maintain those high standards may even be greater,” he said.
The Morrisville Ambulance Squad covers nearly 1,000 calls per year. The staff consists of a combination of volunteer and career personnel, all trained to protect the citizens of Morrisville.
“Have you ever thought about the risk they expose themselves to potentially every day?” he asked.
Burns said the EMTs “find themselves in the middle of harrowing situations; injuries stemming from domestic violence when the violence has just happened and neither the injured or the attacker are in their right minds, drug overdoses wherein you as the EMT are putting your physical health in danger because you have no idea if the intravenous drug user who’s life you are about to save is infected with Hepatitis C or some other communicable disease."
Mike Burns, district magisterial judge, was the speaker. He presented commendations from Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick to the ambulance squad and the fire company.
Vallango presented them with plaques from Morrisville First.
Fitzpatrick sent the police department an American flag that was flown over the nation’s capital.
Each of the three groups received checks for $250 from Morrisville First.
Burns said he is “constantly amazed by the courage, bravery and fortitude that first responders display every day. And I’m even more in their gratitude when I realize that for first responders this is just part of a day’s work.”
He said the level of preparation, training, discipline and experience that first responders must acquire is great. “The commitment to maintain those high standards may even be greater,” he said.
The Morrisville Ambulance Squad covers nearly 1,000 calls per year. The staff consists of a combination of volunteer and career personnel, all trained to protect the citizens of Morrisville.
“Have you ever thought about the risk they expose themselves to potentially every day?” he asked.
Burns said the EMTs “find themselves in the middle of harrowing situations; injuries stemming from domestic violence when the violence has just happened and neither the injured or the attacker are in their right minds, drug overdoses wherein you as the EMT are putting your physical health in danger because you have no idea if the intravenous drug user who’s life you are about to save is infected with Hepatitis C or some other communicable disease."
Burns went on to commend the Morrisvile Fire Company, whose slogan is: “Preserving Our Past, Protecting Your Future”.
Today the company has 35 active firefighting members. On average, they respond to between 350 and 400 calls on a yearly basis. Last year, the Morrisville Fire Company responded to 408 calls.
Burns asked, “Can you imagine leaving your family, friends and job virtually every day of the year to volunteer untold hours to your community?”
He continued, “When things are at their worst that’s when you want the comfort of home and family, but when there is a flood, a hurricane, an ice storm that takes all the power out, or a super-storm, not to mention a fire, these men and their families are sacrificing because they are out protecting us. Imagine that level of commitment.”
About the Morrisville Police Department, Burns said everything he already said applies to the men and women of the police department.
Comprised of eight full- time officers and a few part-time officers, the department serves and protects Morrisville and its 10,000 residents with “honor, dedication and courage,” the judge said.
Burns thanked the police department for its “increased commitment to clearing the streets of drug dealers. In the past two weeks or so, because of the outstanding efforts of the Morrisville Police Department six alleged Trenton drug dealers who have been arrested by Morrisville Police are in prison. All of these alleged drug dealers were arrested after a third controlled buy and with enough quantity that if convicted they will all face significant mandatory minimum state prison time, and will not be back on the streets of Morrisville for a very long time."
Today the company has 35 active firefighting members. On average, they respond to between 350 and 400 calls on a yearly basis. Last year, the Morrisville Fire Company responded to 408 calls.
Burns asked, “Can you imagine leaving your family, friends and job virtually every day of the year to volunteer untold hours to your community?”
He continued, “When things are at their worst that’s when you want the comfort of home and family, but when there is a flood, a hurricane, an ice storm that takes all the power out, or a super-storm, not to mention a fire, these men and their families are sacrificing because they are out protecting us. Imagine that level of commitment.”
About the Morrisville Police Department, Burns said everything he already said applies to the men and women of the police department.
Comprised of eight full- time officers and a few part-time officers, the department serves and protects Morrisville and its 10,000 residents with “honor, dedication and courage,” the judge said.
Burns thanked the police department for its “increased commitment to clearing the streets of drug dealers. In the past two weeks or so, because of the outstanding efforts of the Morrisville Police Department six alleged Trenton drug dealers who have been arrested by Morrisville Police are in prison. All of these alleged drug dealers were arrested after a third controlled buy and with enough quantity that if convicted they will all face significant mandatory minimum state prison time, and will not be back on the streets of Morrisville for a very long time."
6 comments:
"About the Morrisville Police Department, Burns said everything he already said applies to the men and women of the police department.
Comprised of eight full- time officers and a few part-time officers, the department serves and protects Morrisville and its 10,000 residents with “honor, dedication and courage,” the judge said."
They have time left after harrassing and suing each other?
If you hung in for a photo op with judge Burns, you'll never have to prove your courage to me in any other way.
Oh my...it was a very nice luncheon and a really nice gesture from the Morrisville First group.
It was wonderful. Morrisville first is top notch
It's unfortunate that a seemingly negative or controversial article is published by a reporter's affiliates (I don't mean published on here) within a very short time frame and it took a month for this article about an amazing effort by an outstanding organization to make it to the public.
The next event hosted by Morrisville First will be the Zucchini 500. It will be held on Sept.15th at the Morrisville Senior Center.
Registration opens at 10AM.
NEW THIS YEAR - Decorating Contest
Bring your own decorated zucchini to the event and compete to win the best decorated zucchini. (Or you can get one while you're there to decorate.)
More info can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/348322645299157/
Are yellow squash allowed?
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