Lynbrook Firefighters Help Nassau's Operation Wounded Warrior

Eight members of the Lynbrook Fire Department took part in the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warrior program, traveling to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., to present Christmas presents to hospitalized wounded warriors.

The firefighters were: Third Deputy Chief Ed Hynes, and Firefighters Chris Hynes and Vincent McManus, representing Engine Company; Ex-Chief Richard Neidecker and Captain James Eisenhauer, representing Hose Company; Ex-Chief Kevin Bien, representing Truck Company; Ex-Captain Steve Grogan, representing Tally-Ho; and Ex-Captain Laura Gullicksen, representing the Medical Company.

The Lynbrook contingent left at 5 a.m. and were part of a nine-vehicle caravan, including a U-Haul truck that carried the presents. The caravan of fire department vehicles has been dubbed the "Long Red Line."

The group presented 107 Christmas gift bags containing numerous presents (DVD player, NCFD fleece, blankets, socks, toiletries, Christmas cards, letters and notes) to soldiers receiving treatment at the two hospitals treating these wounded warriors.

"The trip to visit wounded soldiers at Walter Reed and Bethesda on Dec. 3 as part of the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warrior program was a moving experience and something that more Americans should experience," said Lynbrook Fire Department Ex-Captain Steve Grogan. "As a veteran, and as an American, I was never more proud of these young soldiers who had lost a limb or suffered other traumatic injury while helping to protect us and our way of life. What we found that day were truly dedicated soldiers that were not giving up and who still wanted to be soldiers and Marines, even with their injuries."

At Walter Reed, the presents were given to soldiers who had mostly lost a limb and were going through rehab after being fitted with a prosthesis. At Bethesda, the group did not personally meet many wounded Marines, due to the extreme seriousness of their injuries, many of whom were recent arrivals at that hospital.

Besides this group of 30 Lynbrook firefighters that traveled to Washington and Maryland, another group of Nassau County firefighters traveled to Camp Lejeune that same day, while a third group was at Fort Bragg with additional Christmas gifts for soldiers recovering and re-training at those two bases.

The Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior program was established six years ago, and Lynbrook firefighters have participated in the program and have traveled to Walter Reed and Bethesda the past three years. Grogan said he hopes to get more of the Lynbrook community involved next year.

"It is my hope next year that we can get more residents of Lynbrook to help the Lynbrook Fire Department, a partner in the NCFF-OWW program, to make a donation or even write Christmas cards and letters to these wounded soldiers," he said.

Grogan is Ex-Captain of the Lynbrook Fire Department.