NJFSAB Supports Veterans and American Legion Post 136

NJFSAB Continues to Support Veterans and American Legion Post 136 in Lodi
Video Link to story: https://youtu.be/u3Eb1ruP2F4
Hamilton, N.J. (May 26, 2017) – With local Veterans organizations closing in so many communities, the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board is proud to continue supporting American Legion Post 136 in Lodi, N.J.
For the second year in a row, NJFSAB has raised much-needed funds for Post 136 through a dinner and gift auction during a recent membership meeting held at the American Legion Hall.
“Our membership really came through and we had a great response, raising $1,500 to support the Post this year,” said David Kurasz, an Air Force Veteran and Executive Director of NJFSAB.
According to Kurasz, many NJFSAB members give back to their local communities both through fire safety education and volunteer work, but supporting Veterans is a special and ongoing commitment to the American Legion.
In fact, the relationship with Post 136 goes back to 2015 when the NJFSAB membership in collaboration with Sprinkler Fitters Local 696 stepped up to help, after hearing about a problem with a fire sprinkler system that wasn’t up to code in the hall. The Post had paid a contractor to install a fire sprinkler system, but he vanished leaving the system incomplete and the Post without money to pay for a new one.
“I knew we needed to help, there was just no way I would walk away from this,” said Charlie Hamilton, an Air Force Veteran and owner of North East Fire Protection in Blairstown. Hamilton rallied the NJFSAB membership to assist. “We had to take it all down and install a new system to bring it up to code. The contractors along with members from Local 696 and suppliers worked together and donated an estimated $50,000 in labor and materials to get the project done, and done the right way.”
“They [NJFSAB/Sprinkler Fitters Local 696] came in like White Knights and saved us,” said Vincent Martorano, an Army Veteran who serves as Adjutant Finance Officer of Post 136, which includes more than 80 members from Lodi and surrounding towns. “With so many other halls closing, there aren’t a lot of places for Veterans to gather, so they [NJFSAB] really did come to our rescue.”
Martorano is thrilled that NJFSAB continues to meet at the hall and has donated the auction proceeds to the Post. “Their donations have really helped with expenses for the new building. They even do our fire inspections for free. It feels really good to know how much they [NJFSAB] support us, and how much they respect our Veterans.”
“These people fought for our country, and many members of NJFSAB are Veterans themselves, which is why it is so important to do whatever we can to help,” said Kurasz.
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The New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NJFSAB) is a cooperative partnership advocating installation and proper care of fire sprinkler systems. Headquartered in Hamilton, N.J., the Board is comprised of unionized workers (Sprinkler Fitters Local 696), local leaders, code officials, contractors and businesses who represent fire sprinkler construction, production, distribution and installation. The NJFSAB’s mission is to help save lives and property through educating the public on the dangers of fire and the effectiveness and benefits of fire sprinklers in responding to that immediate danger. Visit www.njfsab.org

Photo Cutline: Pictured left to right: Vincent Martorano, American Legion Post 136; Kevin Bellew, Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local Union 696; Charles Hamilton, Northeast Fire Protection, Inc.; Carrie Hamilton, Northeast Fire Protection, Inc.; David Kurasz, New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board.