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Staten Island FDNY Company Celebrates 100 Years

By Nicholas Rizzi | September 28, 2015 2:55pm
 The FDNY celebrated Ladder 81, in South Beach, for its 100 years of service on Monday, Sept. 28, 2015.
Ladder 81 100 Year Anniversary Ceremony
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SOUTH BEACH — The FDNY's Ladder 81 celebrated its 100th anniversary on Monday with a ceremony inside the McClean Avenue firehouse.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, members of Ladder 81 and Engine 161 and elected officials honored the current and retired members of the company — nicknamed the "The Beach Boys" — for their century of service in Staten Island.

"I am sure that I can speak for all members that being called a 'Beach Boy' is an honor and to work here is an unparalleled experience," said Eddie Morey of Ladder 81.

"We look forward to working with this outstanding community for many years to come."

The ladder company originally opened on Oct. 1, 1915, in Dongan Hills. It moved to Clove Road in 1959 and moved again to its McClean Avenue firehouse with Engine 161 in 1960, Nigro said.

Members of the firehouse have been credited with responding to a large plane crash in New Dorp in 1960, serving during 9/11 and rescuing residents of South Beach from the flood waters of Hurricane Sandy.

"It's just an amazing company," said Eric Bischoff, Staten Island's trustee for the firefighters union. "I believe it is one of the crown jewels of the New York City Fire Department."

Nigro and others who spoke also lauded members for their response to the death of Lt. Gordon "Matt" Ambelas and his family. Ambelas — who formerly worked for Ladder 81 — died last year trying to rescue people from a Williamsburg blaze.

"81 Truck is a family, you made that clear in the way you were there not only for the Ambelas family but for each other as well," Nigro said.

"The example you set for others is the embodiment of everything our organization stands for."

Borough President James Oddo also remembered when the City Council tried to shut down Engine 161 in 2009 and said the outcry from the community to save the engine showed their love for both.

"I hope that you guys can fully appreciate how important you are to the South Beach community, how respected you are in the South Beach community," Oddo said.