Local Veterans Serving as Huntington Community First Aid Squad Volunteers

Photo: HCFAS Chief Tom Lemp (US Navy), Board of Directors Secretary Robert Franz ( US Army), Rich Rudolph (US Air Force), Paul Kelly (US Army), Richard Gierbolini (US Navy) stand in front of Field Of Honor on the lawn of Huntington Town Hall. Credit: Huntington Community First Aid Squad

Submitted by Huntington Community First Aid Squad

From all U.S branches of military service – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard – from different theaters of operations, dozens of members of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad (HCFAS) have proudly served our country in years gone by. Today many continue to serve as a different type of first-responders with HCFAS, coming to the aid of neighbors in need. The passion to be of service runs deep and it is fitting to acknowledge it on Veterans Day, a day intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

One volunteer, United States Army Captain (Ret.) Paul F. Kelly, is a 33-year member of HCFAS, currently serving as a Critical Care EMT. Kelly, representing his fellow Vietnam-era veterans made remarks at the Town of Huntington Veterans Day Wreath Ceremony on Sunday. The annual event was held at Veterans Plaza, located on the North Lawn of Huntington Hall.

Captain Kelly’s remarks remind residents that Veterans Day is the day that we honor the living men and women who have worn the uniforms of our United States Military; the veterans who have honorably served and protected our country and returned home. Many to continue to serve our home town of Huntington as civilians.

The Veterans Day Annual Wreath Ceremony, held as near to the November 11 date as practical, is arranged by The Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board which is made up of representatives of each veterans organization in Huntington: American Former POWs, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Jewish War Veterans, Women Veterans, Navy Sea Bees and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Kelly sees parallels between military service and serving as a member of HCFAS. ”As in the U.S. Army, when duty calls, we can all depend on each other to do what is best for our patients. Each and every day, twenty-four hours a day, ignoring the inherent risks involved in EMS, we chip away at the suffering of our fellow man. Among our HCFAS volunteers today are veterans who have served during the Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan”.

Huntington Community First Aid Squad current volunteers include veterans: Edward Billia – US Army - serving HCFAS 21 years; Robert Franz – US Army - serving HCFAS 35 years; Jerry Giacomini – US Army - serving HCFAS 40 years; Richard Gierbolini – US Navy - serving HCFAS 9 years; Paul Kelly – US Army - serving HCFAS 33 years; Thomas Lemp – US Navy - serving HCFAS 14 years; David Mohr – US Navy - serving HCFAS 27 years; Peter Nakelski – US Air Force - serving HCFAS 31 years; Joseph Nappi – US Army - serving HCFAS 27 years; Ferd Neumann – US Navy - serving HCFAS 39 years; Olatokunbo (Michael) Oke - USN - serving HCFAS 1 year; Jeffrey O’Neill – US Army - serving HCFAS 4 years; Donald Roulo – US Air Force - serving HCFAS 13 years; Richard Rudolph - USAF, serving HCFAS 12 years; Candace Sobina-Mills -US Navy - serving HCFAS 2 years and Kurt Vetter – US Army - serving HCFAS 8 years.

Huntington Community First Aid Squad provides Advanced Life Support Ambulances and Emergency Medical Services to residents within the town of Huntington since 1967. All-volunteer crews are ready to go 24/7, 365 days a year, to answer the call from neighbors in need. The Huntington Community Ambulance District covers an area from Lloyd Harbor and Lloyd Neck in the North - to Melville in the South and from the Nassau/Suffolk border and Cold Spring Harbor in the West - to Greenlawn and Dix Hills in the East. Over 280 volunteer members responded to more than 5,600 calls in 2013.