MOUNT CARMEL - The Volunteer Fire Department of Mount Carmel held its 14th annual memorial service in honor and memory of those who answered their final alarm during the past year on Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Grace United Church of Christ. The service was officiated by the Rev. Joan Brown.
Those remembered at the services were Charles N. Finton, Kenneth Gonder, Dorothy Lindenmuth, Robert G. Smith, Joseph J. Stutz Jr. and George C. Townsend, of Anthracite Steam Fire Company No. 1; Robert Dembinsky, Clement L. Domarecki, Iver K. Facer Sr., Roger L. Gentile, and James D. Reiner, of Clover Hose Company, and Charles Wargo, of West End Fire Company.
David Berezovske read the names of the deceased firefighters and the sounding of the last bell was done by Trevor Shuder. Organist for the service was Bryan Lapinski, ushers were Robert Beaver and David Yeager and Trevor Shuder was the acolyte.
Established by a borough ordinance in April 1899, the fire department is comprised of the American Hose and Chemical Fire Company, Anthracite Steam Fire Company No. 1, Clover Hose Company, West End Fire Company, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad and the Mount Carmel Fire Police. Current department officers are Ricky Schnee (West End), president; Philip Cimino (Clover Hose), vice-president; James Williams Sr. (Anthracite), secretary and Scott Bolick (American Hose), treasurer; John Williams Jr. (Anthracite) is the borough's fire chief and his assistants are Daniel Cimino (Clover Hose) and James Reed (American Hose).