As they have done so many times this year, Roslyn firefighters will again turn-out in large numbers this weekend, this time to parade through town as the Roslyn Rescue Fire Company celebrates its 150th anniversary - making it the fire department in New York State with the oldest charter.

This celebration is a much-awaited event for a department that has suffered so much in the last year, beginning in September with the loss of Assistant Chief Tommy Langone and ex-Captain Peter Langone in the attack on the World Trade Center, and most recently, Captain Allen Frye, who lost his life during a training exercise in March.

To kick-off the festivities this Saturday, June 15, fire departments throughout the region will participate in an old-fashioned tournament, where teams from different fire departments compete against each other in a relay-style derby that demonstrates skill in certain firefighting tactics. The tournament will be followed by a parade of fire departments - showcasing their personnel and their five trucks - along a route through Roslyn Heights and Roslyn. The parade will terminate in St. Mary's Parish Center parking lot on Round Hill Road where festivities will include live music, food, concessions, and fun for the entire family.

"This year has been a nightmare for this fire company in terms of tragic losses, but it is has also been one of monumental accomplishments," notes Chief Peter Liotta, one of the event's organizers. "For the last several years we have been planning the celebration of our rich history and 150 years of service to the community, and being able to celebrate this landmark in our history is something that has become somewhat bittersweet for many of us."

The Roslyn Rescue Fire Company was established in 1852, and the firefighters who man the stations certainly take pride in its rich history. A brief tour through the stations reveals a décor of early times, accented with ornaments from its history. A horse-drawn steam pumper still sits in the firehouse in the Roslyn Village, as does a 1947 Mack pumper, fully refurbished. According to firehouse lure, the original firehouse in the Roslyn village was made possible only by the dedication of the volunteers at the time who used their own homes as collateral to build the new headquarters.

As a tribute to history and long-term dedication by individual members, the parade's grand marshal will be ex-President Bill Bernstein of Roslyn Heights, a lifetime member of the fire company and a long-time elected official of the Fireman's Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

"We invite the public to celebrate with us on Saturday," said Firefighters Ken Banner and Dave Floccari, the parade committee co-chairmen, who have spent the last many months organizing this Saturday's program. "A large turnout from the community is the best support we can possibly ask for."

More that 22 departments from around the island are expected to join the Roslyn Rescue this Saturday, including firefighters from their sister company in Roslyn, PA. The parade begins at 6 p.m. sharp from Roslyn Rescue Station 2 on Mineola Avenue in Roslyn Heights. The tournament precedes the parade at 10 a.m. at Tappan Beach in Glenwood Landing, just a short drive away.