MINEOLA
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
On Saturday May 4th, 2019, the Mineola Junior Fire Department (MJFD) held there Annual Installation Dinner. The ceremony was held across the street in the Village Hall Community Center where Mayor Strauss and Village Board joined the department along with their families.
Mineola Junior Fire Department has four Officers; Captain John Lodgheit, Lieutenant Domingos DaSilva, Lieutenant David Mulder, Lieutenant David Batista. Along with Sergeant of Arms Thomas Franz and Secretary Raphael Snow.
The Top Award of the Night was the Junior Firefighter of the Year which was awarded to David Mulder.
Head Advisor Ex-Chief Gary Mazur, along with Janet Langer (Wife) and Loretta Fromes (Daughter), presented the recipient of the Walter Langer Scholarship. The Walter Langer Scholarship was formed when Ex-Chief Walter Langer passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2008. Walter Langer was a 46-year member of Truck Company 2 along, a former Chief of the department as well as the First Battalion Fire Commissioner. Chief langer was also a Vietnam War Veteran and a retired member of the Nassau County Police Department. Chief Langer was the Mineola Fire Department Firemen of the Year in 2008 and Truck Company 2 Fireman of the Year in 1992 and 2003 respectfully.
One of Chief Langer's passions was serving as an advisor and mentor to the members of the Mineola Junior Fire Department (MJFD). To continue his legacy of helping mold, young men and women in the Mineola Junior Fire Department, his wife Janet established the Walter J. Langer MJFD Scholarship.
To win the scholarship, the recipient has to display a strong sense of community involvement and service and commitment to the MJFD and Mineola Fire Department (MFD). They also have to have a positive attitude, be well rounded in school, activities in the MJFD, be respectful in dealings with the members of the MFD and members of the MJFD, and must be in good standing with a strong showing at fires, trainings, drills, and other department activities. The Scholarship was awarded to Ex-Captain Nicolas Tavares who also recently received a full scholarship for ROTC School from the United States Marine Corps.
The Mineola Volunteer Fire Department is extremely grateful to have the Mineola Junior Fire Department as they are the backbone of the department. Out of the 12 Department Line Officer positions, 8 of them were previously juniors. More than two dozens of the department members were previously juniors.