The weather had gotten cooler and Halloween was behind us. The smell of pine is in the air and it seems the holiday decorations are coming out quicker and quicker even before Halloween is over. It was time for the members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association to host our annual Christmas lunch and resident party at the NJ State Firemen’s Home in Boonton, NJ. This is our most popular party of the year and an event that the residents of the home look forward to every year.

The NJ State Firemen’s Home Association in Boonton, NJ decorated for Christmas

The home was decorated so festively and put everyone in the mood for this afternoon. Is it what the holidays are all about?

The decorations around the home to create a festive environment

The holiday cheer around the building

In December our organization does not have a formal meeting but rather a members lunch shared by both the members and the staff so that we all could share in the successes we had this year. It was a productive and profitable year of fundraising and that will help us sponsor more programming at the home for our fellow firefighters who reside here.

This afternoon buffet is a way for members and their family and for the hardworking staff at the home to know how much we care for all their love and support of the residents who live here. None of us could do what we do without them.

Our buffet luncheon cooked by the Home’s in-house chef Prince

The delicious sandwiches and salads at lunch

After lunch was over, we joined the residents in the main recreation room for entertainment and our visit from Santa.

The recreation room decorated for the holidays

Our DJ and Master of Ceremony for the event, BCFHA member John McLoghlin was who was joined with the musical talents of member, Jerry Naylis’s granddaughters and resident favorite, Gigi in an afternoon of Christmas carols and songs.

Entertainer Gigi with Master of Ceremony BCFHA member John McLoghlin

Jerry Naylis’s granddaughters are a big favorite with the residents

Accompanied by their mother on the piano, it was a festive afternoon of songs and hymns

The girls singing “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer”

The girls singing “Walking in a Winterland”

The girls singing “Silent Night”

The girls singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas”

After the girls performance, entertainer Gigi rocked the room with a series of popular Christmas songs and warm holiday wishes to all the residents and their family members in the audience.

Gigi performing for the residents

In the middle of the concert, we had a quick pause as a very special visitor arrived from the North Pole as Santa led our break in the concert for gift gifting.

Santa arrived to help us distribute gifts to the residents

As the afternoon rolled to a close, we were treated by both Gigi and Santa a sing a long of ‘I’m dreaming of a White Christmas’.

The sing a long lead by Gigi and Santa with the song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”

All good things come to an end plus Santa had to make his trip back to the North Pole and the afternoon wrapped up. The membership of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association took our annual group picture. I couldn’t ask for a greater group of men who are so dedicated to making the lives of our Brothers at the home so comfortable. We never want to forget the firefighters who came before us and set the tone for the Brotherhood!

The membership at the end of the festivities

We could not do all of this without the best Executive Board who are so dedicated to this organization. Thank you guys for everything!

The Executive Board of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

John Kinner, Tom Simpson, Justin Watrel and Roy DeYoung

Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year!