The first weekend in December it was time for the members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association to host our annual Christmas lunch and resident party at the NJ State Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ. This is our most popular party of the year and an event that the residents of the home look forward to every holiday season. The home was decorated so festively and put everyone in the mood for this afternoon. 

In December our organization does not have a formal meeting but rather a member’s lunch shared by both the members and the staff, so that we all could share in the successes we had this year. It was a productive and profitable year of fundraising and that will help us sponsor more programming at the home for our fellow firefighters who reside here. We want to thank all the Bergen County, NJ firehouses for their generous donations in making the lives of our fellow brothers so comfortable.

This afternoon buffet is a way for members and their family and for the hardworking staff at the home to know how much we care for all their love and support of the residents who live here. None of us could do what we do without them. After lunch was over, we joined the residents and some of their family members in the main recreation room for entertainment and our visit from Santa.

Our DJ and Master of Ceremony for the event, BCFHA member John McLoghlin was who was joined with the musical talents of member, Jerry Naylis’s granddaughters and resident favorite, Gigi in an afternoon of Christmas carols and songs. After the girl’s performance, entertainer Gigi rocked the room with a series of popular Christmas songs and warm holiday wishes to all the residents and their family members in the audience. In the middle of the concert, we had a quick pause as a very special visitor arrived from the North Pole as Santa led our break in the concert for gift gifting. The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association members assisted Santa with handing out our organization’s gift to all the residents. This was very well received.

All good things come to an end plus Santa had to make his trip back to the North Pole and the afternoon wrapped up. The membership of the Bergen County Firemen's Home Association took our annual group picture. I could not ask for a greater group of men who are so dedicated to making the lives of our Brothers at the home so comfortable. We never want to forget the firefighters who came before us and set the tone for the Brotherhood!