History of Sun-Vet Engine Co. 127

During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the Holbrook community began to expand with new housing developments and increased commercial and industrial businesses.  Considering that all Holbrook Fire Department vehicles still responded from the Terry Blvd. fire house only, the Commissioners began to look toward an expansion of the Fire Department also.  In 1973 Station One on Church Street and Station Two on Patchogue-Holbrook Road opened.  The fire houses were manned by any of the members who lived close enough to respond to them.   The Holbrook Fire Department was still organized into only two companies, Jupiter and Lightning, even though the District was divided into three fire houses.  The members who regularly responded to the outlying houses formed a closer bond than with those who responded to the main house. They responded to all alarms as a group, many times without officers on board.  This led to a strong desire to form their own Fire companies with their own officers.  After almost 7 years of discussion and negotiation by  Rich Erario, Pete Keller and Tom Smith, Sun-Vet Engine Co. 127 and Eagle Engine Co. 2 were formed in April 1985 consisting of the members who lived in the immediate response area of each Station. 

             Sun-Vet Engine Company #127 was named for its proximity to the intersection of Sunrise Hwy. and Veteran’s Memorial Hwy.  The #127 was taken as a sign of respect for Lightning Engine Co. #1 and Jupiter #27 since all of the members of this new Engine Company came from one of these two original companies. All too often the members of Sun-Vet lived up to their nickname, “the Black Sheep.”  The first Captain was Thomas Civale and his Lieutenant was George Christensen Jr.  Both very active young firefighters who were charged with building and developing Sun-Vet into a strong enough fire company to survive.  This was not an easy task as there were few members who actually lived in the Station One response area.  In addition to ensuring that the engines got out to all alarms, keeping all the members trained with  hands on drills every weekend, they ran a continuous recruitment program while trying to keep the interest of the members they had already.  Although difficult, they both providing the energy, love of the Holbrook Fire Department and a strong commitment to the community that helped Sun-Vet Engine Company #127 to develop into a strong asset to the Department and the community.

OFFICERS

Captain

Steven Rostern

1st Lieutenant 

Peter Nunziata

Company Treasurer: T

Company Secretary: Rich Rushton