BERKELEY – Monuments are supposed to last for generations. The Volunteer Firefighter Memorial in Veterans Park was installed years ago to honor those who were lost in their dedication to lifesaving.
However, someone pried off a bronze nameplate, cracking the stone to which it was attached. The vandalism was found by a public works employee – who also happens to be a firefighter – while he was cleaning the area.
The memorial cost more than $100,000 and was funded through donations. Although many towns are having trouble attracting and maintaining volunteers, Berkeley is blessed with three volunteer fire companies which worked for over a decade to install the memorial.
The memorial consists of three large stones, each from one local volunteer company: Bayville, Manitou Park, and Pinewald Pioneer. A statue of a firefighter was done by local sculptor Brian Hanlon.
Another statue of a fireman’s hat was inscribed with the name of Eugene Furey, a firefighter who died in 1988 en route to a fire call when he lost control of his personal vehicle on a rain-slicked road. He was 28. A street in town is named after him.
It was a plaque of his name that was broken off of the Bayville stone.
“It’s sad. We put so much time and money into it,” said Pat Piccoli, former chief of the Manitou Park Fire Co.
The stones are made of solid granite, so he is not sure if that can be repaired, or if it has to be replaced. The insurance has a $10,000 deductible, which means the first $10,000 worth of repairs will come from the fire companies’ pockets.
While security cameras weren’t on the memorial at the time of the crime, they are now, he said. It’s unfortunate that it has to be like this.
He said he assumed that if the suspect was looking to sell the bronze in the plaque, but since it was left behind, something must have scared them into leaving suddenly.
John Anderson, former chief of the Bayville Fire Company, said there are always tons of kids at the park and it’s been untouched for about a decade. He doesn’t think the vandalism was done out of anger.
Another name that was about to be added was Brian LeTrent, who was just 34 when he died in 2023 of a medical issue within 24 hours of a training exercise for the Bayville company. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation just acknowledged that his death was in the line of duty. His bio can be found here: firehero.org/fallen-firefighter/brian-j-letrent/
The vandalism has been upsetting for the firefighters. “It’s sacred,” Anderson said, comparing it to if a tombstone had been damaged.
The monument was put in the middle of a very busy park with the intention that not only should people learn about past members, but perhaps it could inspire future members. Someone could see how residents celebrate firefighters and want to join.
Anderson said that he hoped that if there’s a bright side to be found here, it’s that someone who learns about the incident uses it as a sign to follow a higher calling and join one of the volunteer squads. Bayville, for example, meets at the firehouse every Tuesday night after 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Route 9 and Eugene Furey Boulevard. Interested people can come visit then.
Donations can be sent to the Volunteer Firefighter Memorial Fund, PO Box 592, Toms River, NJ 08754.
