Fireman
Rutherford, NJ
 [ Excerpts taken from an Original article by Debra Winters. ]
The Rutherford Fire Department unveiled a bronze statue of a firelighter in Firefighter's Park on Sept. 22.
Ann Mery sang several patriotic songs during the ceremony and Mayor Bemadette McPherson spoke words of firefighter’s courage and bravery. Councilwoman and Fire Department Liaison Denise Ross also spoke, and a special reading was done by the young Michelle Dunn, entitled, "The Last Alarm." Michelle's father died fighting a house fire in the borough.
In an excerpt from that reading Dunn said, "But now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live. So as we go from day to day and we pray to God above, say a prayer for your local fireman, he may save the one you love."
The statue was a work of art from the hands of Lorann Jacobs, who was approached by the former fire chief Thomas Twist in April of 2000. Jacobs said she was honored to create the piece.
For those interested in the creating process, step by step, log on to www.lorannjacobs.com. Within two weeks, Jacobs hopes to have the site up and running.
To prepare the art. the RFD sent her he entire firelighter's uniform and Twist's helmet as a model to go by.
Starting with clay, Jacobs created four different faces before decided on the one that is now in the park. The model A us then shipped to a foundry called Laran Bronze, near Philadelphia, for -nolding and waxing.
"Bronzing is quite an undertaking. It s poured at 2000 degrees. I found myself remarking that a firelighter is made with heat and fire," Jacobs remarked.
In the end. the statue is of a firefighter sanding tall, with his head dropped, holding his helmet, staring down at a fallen comrade's helmet on the ground.
When asked how she felt in regards to the Trade Center attack and the style of the statue. Jacobs said. "Yes, I felt very emotional to say the least. But now it has even more meaning and sentimental value."
Lorann met Cheif Tom Twist (Retired) at an art show in New Jersey. "He asked about doing a lifesize piece, but I never thought he would get back to me," Jacobs said.
A Rutherford exit ramp was recently renamed and dedicated to two of the borough's fallen .firefighters in a ceremony on Sept. 22.
The comer of Veterans Boulevard was renamed Thomas Dunn and Edwin Ward Mermorial Highway. Both men died while involved with borough fires.
On hand at the dedication was Sen. Carry Fumari.
"The dedications and sacrifices of firefighters have been on many of our minds lately. On television and in our newspapers, we have seen firefighters march into burning buildings, knowing they may not return," Furnari said in his speech.
Mayor Bernadette McPherson said, "Today we honor these brave men who risked their lives so that others may have a chance to continue living. Many motorists drive through here everyday and now they will remember Thomas Dunn and Edwin Ward for their courageous efforts as firefighters."
Visit http://www.rutherfordfire.org/firemenspark.htm for more information.
To view more of Loran’s public works, click here.
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