One of Mineola's special organizations, the Junior Fire Department, celebrated its silver anniversary, but, in reality, it has been worth gold to the community.

The Mineola Junior Fire Department has been in existence since 1976, helping teens train in the art of firefighting while instilling in them the discipline and commitment it takes to serve the community by helping others in what can be a desperate time of need.

The juniors are a part of the Mineola Fire Department and junior members learn from their seniors so that they can carry on the rich tradition of the Mineola firefighters who have built a legacy of community service and unparalleled bravery in the village.

But in training with their leaders through the years, the juniors have formed their own tradition, which was celebrated at a recent ceremony at the firehouse on Washington Avenue, held to honor the juniors' 25 years of service.

Mineola Fire Department Chief Mike DeStefano explained that the 31 current members of the juniors bear a big responsibility of carrying out the tradition of the department in the future.

Not only do the juniors prepare to carry the torch by learning the skills and knowledge necessary to march into a burning building to rescue their fellow neighbors, should an unfortunate event arise, they also learn how to help the community through their involvement in such initiatives as food drives, Operation Santa, and the Mayor's Halloween Party. "We're trying to instill community pride in all of them," said junior advisor and ex-chief Gary Mazur.

The advisors to the junior fire department and current members of the Mineola Fire Department - Mazur, Bill Gresalfi, Rob Connolly, and Dave Kearney - play a key part in the experience of being a junior firefighter by displaying the leadership traits so often displayed in the Mineola Fire Department.

The 31 members attend training sessions together, go on trips together, undertake projects together and form a sense of camaraderie they take with them for perhaps the rest of their lives.

The Mineola Junior Fire Department, in its quarter century of existence, has become an organization in which its members, like their older counterparts, dedicate themselves to the community while coming away with a sense of community pride, knowing they are helping to make a difference. For a person in his or her early teens, the feeling of belonging to such an organization has proved to be invaluable.

"You learn to help people in any ways they need help, how to rescue them in a situation," said 15-year-old junior firefighter Ben Volino.

"You get a lot out of the program," said junior firefighter Joel Orr.

"It shows what a bunch of kids can really do. People think we don't do much because we're young and we always get in trouble, but we really show a lot. We really listen to people because it's a hands-on job and that's how we really learn," said junior firefighter Dan Siraco. "We work together all the time and we become good friends. It's like another family almost."

The junior fire department also allows youngsters to follow in the footsteps of past juniors who are now members of the Mineola Fire Department. There are currently 51 former juniors now serving in the Mineola Fire Department.

Cory Pratt has been a junior firefighter since May, but he feels like he has been involved his whole life. That's because his father Joseph Pratt is currently a first lieutenant in the department. "I really like what the juniors do, how they help the community," said Cory, a second-generation junior in the Pratt family. "Everyone works together to get something done."

"I've learned how to work as a team. I learned what the firemen have to go through to put out a fire. They have to do a lot of crazy stuff to save people," said James Valente, who has been a junior firefighter for two years.

For many of the juniors, being a part of the department at a young age is the first in the fulfilling the dream of becoming either a member of the Mineola Fire Department or the New York City Fire Department. For junior firefighter Kevin Williams, being involved in rescue efforts runs in the family. Although some of his father's friends happened to be New York City firefighters who perished in the World Trade Center, he has not been dissuaded from pursuing his dream of being a firefighter.

For others, the dream of being a firefighter is now a reachable one because of the junior fire department. "Since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a fireman. Words can't express what you learn and what it means. In the juniors, it's like we're all brothers and sisters," said Peter Ferreira. "I have to be a fireman. You don't become a fireman. You're born one."

Another appealing aspect of the junior fire department is that it's just as beneficial for young women as it is for young men. Junior Carolina Coelho admits she joined the junior fire department because her friends were in it. But, she is glad she did and her efforts have been noticed. Coelho was awarded the Junior Dispatcher of the Year. "You get to know a lot of people. You get to know, not only people from your own school, but people from different cities and states," she said.

For many of the junior firefighters, the opportunity to learn and grow up with each other and the camaraderie that forms has made the experience well worth it. "Besides having a goal to work towards as you get older, you are also able to make so many more friends. I didn't know any of these kids up until a half a year ago. Now, I have so many more friends," said junior firefighter Nick Weber.

Of all the reasons to be a junior, the members point to the opportunity to serve their community and help their neighbors as the first priority. "Knowing for yourself that you're saving someone makes it worth it," said junior firefighter Dan Zarchy about the prospect of entering a burning building.

Based on the commitment of the members of the junior firefighters, the future bodes well for the Mineola Fire Department. Mazur estimates that over 200 juniors in the department's 25-year history went on to serve in the Mineola Fire Department, including charter members Steve McCarthy and Chris Danielson, who are still in the department.

Former junior firefighter Hernando Gauto was recently accepted into the Mineola Fire Department, which is the goal of many of the juniors. He credits the discipline he learned in the juniors as one of the reasons he made the jump up. "I became interested and I kept going for three years," he said about his time in the juniors. "It helped me a lot in different ways, not just in the fire department but in school and with my friends. You become more responsible and you learn you can help the community by being here."

Just like the big club that is led by Chief DeStefano, Chief Scott Strauss and Chief Jack Gayson, the Mineola juniors also has leadership in Captain Brian Saks, and lieutenants Sergio Ribeiro and Tomasz Chorzepa.

Ribeiro has been in the program almost five years and said he is looking forward to becoming a firefighter. Much like the others, being a junior only confirmed his desire to eventually become a member of the Mineola Fire Department.

Chorzepa said he has enjoyed the direction the members of the Mineola Fire Department has given the juniors. The advisors acknowledged the chiefs over the years who have supported the junior fire department and made it possible for the organization to exist.

Twenty-five years ago, 26 teens became the first member of the junior fire department under the direction. The faces may have changed but the ideals the organization has been built on haven't. Over the years it has become an important part of the lives of many who continue to live with the lessons learned as a junior.

"It became a part of me," said Captain Saks, who was recognized as the Junior Firefighter of the Year. "It makes me feel good to give something back to my community and do something with my life to benefit others."

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to the Mineola Junior Fire Department.

Brian Saks - Captain

Tomasz Chorzepa - Lieutenant

Sergio Ribeiro - Lieutenant

Jessica Canning

Carolina Coelho

Jason Cunha

Doug Cunningham

Jason DeOliveira

Peter Ferreira

Julio Gauto

Lori Gayson

Chrissy Lee

Michael Marotta

Eddie Martins

Jen McGrath

Antonia O'Brien

Joel Orr

Janine Posillico

Cory Pratt

Luis Ribeiro

Anthony Ricciardi

Matthew Sanderleaf

Chris Silverman

Dan Siraco

Luis Tramontano

James Valente

Jason Vega

Ben Volino

Nick Weber

Dan Zarchy

Mineola Fire Department Junior Fire Department Leaders in 1976

Chief - Jack Levatino

1st Deputy - Jack Blekicki

2nd Deputy - Peter Fagiola

Advisor - Anthony Bell

Co-Advisor - Louis Buttacoli

Dept. Liaison Officer - Nicholas Martone

1st Lieutenant - Joe Conlon, Mike Minchella

2nd Lieutenant - Jim Rowe, Lou Santosus, Steve Stolarik