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February, 2018
1ST Responder Newspaper - LI
Community Ambulance Company Member Celebrates 50 Years of Service!
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Babylon Village FD's 2011 Spartan 1500-GPM Pumper. It belongs to the Sumpwam Engine Co. #2.
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Babylon Village FD's 2000 Sutphen 85-foot Tower Ladder with 1500-GPM Pumper. It belongs to Hook & Ladder 1 (formed in 1877).
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Babylon Village's 2016 Ford/Yankee Coach A.L.S. ambulance belonging to Babylon Rescue Squad.
Babylon Village Holds Veteran’s Day Parade Babylon, NY - On November 11, 2017 the Babylon Village Fire Department held their annual Veteran's Day parade. It was the only Veteran's Day parade held on Long Island.
Sayville, NY – Community Ambulance Company is excited to celebrate a great milestone for one of their most dedicated members. December 18, 2017 marked exactly 50 years since Donald Hester was sworn in as a member of the department. Community Ambulance Com- JUMP TO FILE# pany was only 17- 121217105 years-old at the time Don joined the department, and over the years he has seen the agency grow from a small garage with Cadillac ambulances to the current modern facility that handles over 4,600 alarms per year. Don has been an active riding member for his entire 50-years of membership, and to this day, he still volunteers for a weekly 12 hour overnight shift as a driver. He has responded to the side of thousands of patients during his career, making him a real life hero. In addition to his weekly shift on the ambulance, Don has a tradition of volunteering on New Year’s Eve to be on the last alarm of the year and the first alarm of the New Year. In between those alarms, he has become famous amongst the membership for marking the stroke of midnight by banging his gong outside and making everyone at headquarters eat pickled herring to bring good luck in the New Year. Don never misses a meeting or event for Community Ambulance Company, and has served as a Crew Chief and member of the Board of Directors. When not answering alarms, Don will often be seen sitting in the crew room regaling newer members with stories of how the ambulance company used to be. Outside of Community Ambulance Company, Don has also been extremely active as a member of the Boy Scouts as well as the Rotary Club. He and his wife Judy, to whom he has been married for 55-years, have even opened up their home over the years to exchange students from all over the world through the Rotary Exchange Program. This shows that their dedication to
Don Hester with Cherry Grove Fire Department.
serving others has not just affected local residents, but has quite literally touched lives around the globe. Don has also been a longtime member of the Cherry Grove Fire Department on Fire Island, where he spends his summers. According to Community Ambulance Company Chief of Department James MacDonell, “Don is an inspiration and role-model to our newer members. He has shown for 50-years that his commitment and selflessness are unmatched both on and off the ambulance. Don and his wife Judy have dedi-
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cated their lives to serving others, and he is truly an asset to our organization.” On Monday, December 11, 2017, Don Hester would be recognized for his years of service by Community Ambulance Company at their monthly department meeting. At that time, he would be surrounded by his friends and family to celebrate the time he has given and to usher in his 50th year of membership with the department. - ELIZABETH WHITE
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