BLOOMFIELD, NJ — During
last night’s Township Council meeting, Fire Chief Louis Venezia was presented
with the Patriotic Employer award by a representative of the United States
Department of Defense for the Bloomfield Fire Department’s willingness to
accommodate military members who work within the Department.
The Patriotic Employer Award is
given by the Office of the Secretary of Defense “for contributing to national
security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee
participation in America’s National Guard and reserve force.” An employee serving
in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member,
may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to
the nominating Service member and his or her family. Chief Venezia was
nominated for the award by Firefighter Alexander Nieves.
“I would like to congratulate the
Fire Department and Chief Louis Venezia, on this much deserved recognition,
where the department prides itself on always accommodating our armed service
members and their families,” said Mayor Michael Venezia. “Firefighters,
like military members, put their lives on the line for our community and our
country, so I would like to thank and recognize the Bloomfield Fire
Department’s 25 former military members for their service.”
“I would like to thank the Office
of the Secretary of Defense for this great honor. Our department is stronger
with the presence and leadership of our military members. We are proud to
accommodate our members needs when they need time for training or deployments,”
said Fire Chief Louis Venezia. “The Firefighters in our department are
some of the best anywhere, and I would especially like to thank the members of
our team who have served our country at home and abroad.”
Bloomfield Firefighters Alexander
Nieves, Fongbana Urey and Kenneth Hall are in the National Guard, with the
latter two currently deployed overseas. Carl Mercado is in the Navy Reserves.
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