July 1^st is a special day for Hackensack firefighters.  On this day, this year, retired Lt. Leonard “Lenny” Coyman paid a visit to his old department. Members of the 2^nd Platoon assembled at Fire Headquarters, where Lt. Coyman informed members of the sacrifices five city officers and firefighters made on this date in 1988. 

There are no longer any firefighters on the job that were working when the five members perished in what is known by the national fire service as “The Hackensack Ford Fire.”  

As a firefighter who was there, “...he provided invaluable first hand insight into the events of July 1, 1988, and shared the lessons learned from that tragic and fatal fire,” it was noted on the union's Facebook page.  

“Hearing directly from someone who experienced the incident offers our members a deeper understanding of the sacrifice made, the changes that resulted from the fire, and the importance of carrying those lessons forward in today's fire service.”

At 6 p.m. every July 1^st, active and retired city firefighters, mutual aid firefighters, families and friends assembly at the Fallen Firefighter's Memorial at Memorial Park to remember their sacrifice.  The park is also dedicated to four other LODD city firefighters.  In addition, firefighters who worked at “the pile” after the World Trade Center attack, and have died from 9-11 related illnesses, were recognized.  Their passing are also in the Line-of-Duty.  

Recently, the park has been completely renovated and Chief of Department Keith Rosazza recognized all of the volunteer workers, vendors, contributors, etc., that are responsible for the park improvements.  

Lt. Coyman has made every memorial.  He wears his dress uniform and is one of the members who carries a memorial wreath to the five pillars, representing the fallen five, and salutes same.  Every year the lieutenant can be seen wiping a tear from his eyes with his white gloves. 

This year, participants braved the 90 + degree temperature. No rain or rainbow this year, as in past years and after the fire was brought under control 1988. 

During the memorial, Ladder Co. 1 was dispatched to an elevator entrapment with multiple victims.  Upon assessing the situation, Rescue Co. 1 and Deputy Chief Justin Derevyanik were also dispatched to a long-duration operation. 

The Beat Goes On.