To Chief William E. Neice Jr., the chief's office, department officers, company officer, members and the 63rd Annual Nassau County United Memorial Service Committee, members of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department along with the fire departments of Nassau County.

My co-chairman and myself would also like to thank the color guard, Candle Bearers, staging and parking details and the entire membership of the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department for all their help and cooperation in making the 63rd Annual Nassau County United Memorial Service the best ever in the entire 63 year history. A thanks goes to Joe Treccasi for being there for me whenever I had a question or a problem and to Thomas Tobin and also the rest of the Nassau County committee for working hand in hand with our own committee. I thank the Reverend Wilbert Bradley for supplying the Bibles for our Bible presentation. That was a beautiful gesture. To the grand marshal, Roslyn Rescue's Chief Peter Liotta whose fire company from the 5th Battalion, our friend, and our neighbor, has recently gone through some tough times on more than one occasion. Without the unity and brotherhood of our entire firematic family throughout Glen Cove and Nassau County there is no way possible the memorial service could have been as successful as it was.

The many hours and months of work from the Glen Cove committee proved to me that we are all proud and dedicated members of the Glen Cove Volunteer Department. It is this pride and dedication that made this service spectacular. I have been told by members of the Nassau County committee that it was the best service that they have ever been to. Family members have expressed deep gratitude and a heartfelt thanks for memorializing their family members with such a beautiful service.

To our soloists, Sea Cliff Fireman Raymond Pierce and Kenashia Douglas: Ray Pierce singing the National Anthem gave me the feeling of being at Giants Stadium in a packed house.

When Kenashia Douglas took to the podium to sing God Bless America and the entire audience began to sing with her, it brought tears to my eyes as I'm sure lots of others too.

To the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department Chaplin John Burns who connected with the families as he sang I Need Thee Every Day and Paul Cartier, whose performance of the Firemen's hymn Abide With Me is a tradition in itself with this service. Also thanks to the Nassau County chaplains for their help with the Scripture readings.

NYPD's Ceremonial Unit's two buglers performed Taps in such a way you can't help but feel the pain. What could be more amazing than listening to the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums playing Amazing Grace for a recessional? Thank you all.

Outside the middle school we had four memorial arches set up using eight ladder trucks from all over Nassau County. These arches were used to drape four large American flags across Forest Avenue. The eight fire departments that participated in this tribute included our own Glen Cove with Roslyn Rescue, Glenwood, Bethpage, Great Neck Vigilant, Hempstead, Hicksville and New Hyde Park. These departments were chosen for our own special reasons. Thanks, brothers.

Our special thanks goes to Glen Cove Public Schools for allowing us to use the Wunsch Arts Center along with Joe Solomito and his staff for making the place look its best ever.

The bus transportation was supplied by three fire departments in the 5th Battalion; they were Bayville, Locust Valley and Oyster Bay Co. #1. Sea Cliff and Carle Place Fire Departments took place in our headquarters on standby should there have been a fire during the service.

To our County Executive Tom Suozzi and the Nassau County Parks Department for supplying the sound system.

Thank you to Chief Margaret Pitino and the entire Glen Cove Special Patrol Force for their outstanding job keeping Forest Avenue a safe and controlled situation.

To Chief Steve Nelson and the standby crews of the Glen Cove Volunteer EMS. Thanks for being there for us when we needed you.

To Deputy Chief Bruce Early of the Glen Cove Police Department for all your cooperation.

Thank you for your support to the following businesses: Dodge Thomas Funeral Home; Peter Morris; Neger-Gilder Flowers and Home Care Supply.

Thank you Billy Kessel for having those late night meetings and for doing an outstanding job as co-chairman.

My wife Ann and my daughter Christa, thank you for being there for me and giving me all your support through this past year with everything that went on.

For story and photos visit our web site at GCVFD.com

Ronald M. Pascucci

Chairman

63rd Annual Nassau County United Memorial Service