Last night, in front of over 65 family members, friends and peers, the Washington Engine Company No. 2 recognized it's four senior men for their years of service to the company and the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department.

The night's honorees were Vito Calcutti Sr., Donald "Tex" Fagan, John Giglio and Harold Waters. These men have given over 62, 70, 70 and 59 years, respectively, to the company and department.

The two senior-most men, Mr. Fagan and Mr. Giglio, both joined the department's ranks at the age of 16 in 1944, during World War II. With so many of our village's men off fighting the war, it left our ranks in the department thin, thus requiring the membership age to drop from 18 to 16. It is believed that members like them, as well as those that were off fighting the war, were among the best this department ever had.

Reflecting on their time in the department, Company Historian Stephen Dominello pointed out that when all of these men joined Washington Engine, they were operating a 1932 fire apparatus, only the second motorized piece in the company's fleet, succeeding the horse-drawn types of earlier years.

When our M.C. of the night, Vice President Gerry Munson, opened up the floor for the honorees or their families to speak, Mr. Calcutti commented that being in the fire service is "a young man's outfit, and you just grow up with it." His wife, Virgina, added a memory of her own, citing how Vito used to keep his clothes folded together and ready for fire calls, and how his mother - who was less than fond of him being a firefighter - would sit on them and urge him not to go. Luckily for all of us, she finally gave in.

Mr. Fagan mentioned how when he and Mr. Giglio joined, they were just 16 year old boys who wanted to help in any way they could. Mr. Giglio made the room laugh when he asked his long-time friend Tex to "tell everyone about the time you almost burned down the firehouse." Apparently a misstep in getting the old firehouse's furnace going almost led to a fiery disaster.

Proclamations in recognition of their many years of service were received by Senator Greg Ball and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. Chief William Vlad, Assistant Chief Chris Colombo, Captain Mike Feminella - as well as Mr. Dominello and Mr. Munson - all offered their memories of these fine men. Chief Vlad recalled how Mr. Calcutti, as well as other old timers no longer with us, used to come running down the High Street hill when the siren went off.

Assistant Chief Chris Colombo, a member of Washington Engine, reflected on growing up around the firehouse with his late Grandfather Billy King, and how he and these gentlemen would teach him the ropes around the firehouse, as well as how to behave himself.

Mr. Waters was unable to attend the service, however the company made arrangements to give him his proclamations.