[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 58 (Thursday, April 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE MONTCLAIR AMBULANCE UNIT'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Montclair 
Ambulance Unit, located in the Township of Montclair, New Jersey, which 
is celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
  In the early part of the 20th century, Emergency Medical Services 
were just beginning to organize formally. As populations increased, 
towns began to establish their own ambulance services, including the 
Township of Montclair. In December 1952, the first meeting of the 
Montclair Ambulance Unit took place, and appointed Lawrence W. Sanders 
as chairman. During that first meeting, trustees and the first officers 
were also appointed. Donald Miller was elected as Vice-President, 
Donald Hobart as Secretary, Fred Scharfenberg as Treasurer, and 
Chairman Sanders was elevated to President.
  In the next six months, the new Montclair Ambulance Unit organized; 
formulating bylaws, obtaining a Cadillac Ambulance, and finding the 
necessary space and equipment. Finally, on June 20, 1953, the unit 
officially began operations with its first assignment, which was a 
discharge from Montclair Community Hospital. After nearly two years of 
operation, in March of 1955, the Trustees of Montclair Ambulance Unit 
began a search for their own headquarters to accommodate members and 
rigs. After nearly six months, in August of that same year, 
negotiations began for 69 Portland Place, a location strategically 
situated close to Valley Road and Bloomfield Avenue. By January of 
1956, Gabriel Aiello signed over the deed and gave the Montclair 
Ambulance Unit its first official home. Prior to this the unit had been 
operating out of the Red Cross building on Park Street, and storing the 
ambulance at the Arthur K. Brown Funeral Home.
  By 1958, the Montclair Ambulance Unit had responded to 2,620 requests 
for service, had an active membership of fifty-seven men and six women, 
and several administrative volunteers from the Junior League who worked 
in the office and initiated the ``phone tree'' when requests came in. 
With the impending retirement of Montclair Ambulance Unit's first 
Captain, Captain Maclachlan, the trustees decided to create a paid 
position to handle the day-to-day business operations. In 1962, after 
an extensive search, the unit contracted John Rankin for this role. A 
new Captain, R. Stan Berry, was elected by the active members. Again in 
1964, a new Director was named; a retired Montclair Police Officer 
Frederick ``Bud'' Kupper.
  The year 1970 marked another milestone year for the Montclair 
Ambulance Unit, as they relocated their headquarters to what is now 86 
Valley Road. This location served the unit for the next 35 years. By 
2005, the Montclair ambulance unit sold the Valley Road building, and 
moved to the old Walnut Street Firehouse, renovated and provided at a 
nominal rate by the Township of Montclair. The proceeds from the sale 
helped to finance operations, the maintenance of the ambulance fleet 
and the cost of equipment, and the staff of highly trained EMTs. Since 
the first meeting in 1952, the Montclair Ambulance Unit has responded 
to over 175,000 requests for service, and overcome the challenges of 
lack of volunteerism, higher standards of training for staff, and the 
changes in the economic, political, and social world. The unit now has 
an around the clock, career staff whose training covers the entire 
range of EMS. Additionally, they follow an effective, new organization 
model consistent with other public safety entities. They have added a 
Chief and Deputy Chief of Operations, a full time Lieutenant, two part 
time Sergeants, and a Special Events Coordinator.
  In addition to responding to medical emergencies and transportations, 
the Montclair Ambulance Unit has always also responded to all fires in 
Montclair to aid the Montclair Fire Department while simultaneously 
providing mutual aid to surrounding towns, and, post 9/11, provided 
service to New York City. In 2012, the Unit became a New Jersey EMS 
Task Force agency, which allows it to be requested for aid in any 
declared emergency in New Jersey or across state lines, should the need 
arise. Most recently, they provided aid following Superstorm Sandy. 
Over the years the Montclair Ambulance Unit has improved and expanded 
services, and gone above and beyond expectations in the community. 
Currently, the Montclair Ambulance Unit operates a fleet of four Basic 
Life Support Ambulances licensed by the New Jersey Department of 
Health, and three support vehicles, including two supervisor/first 
response vehicles, and a Special Operations vehicle provided by the 
Department of Homeland Security. They continue to provide professional, 
responsive, patient-first care, and are dedicated to being a community 
based, industry leading, emergency medical service organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Montclair Ambulance Unit as they celebrate their 60th Anniversary.

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