On May 4th, 2017, The Two Hundred Club of Essex celebrated its 51st Anniversary…51 years of dedicated service to the dependents of police and Firefighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty.  The Club celebrated this milestone at its Annual Valor Awards luncheon at Nanina’s In The Park in Belleville, NJ with an extensive program.

As you know, the purpose of this luncheon is, and has always been, to honor our police officers and Firefighters of Essex County, who demonstrate exceptional courage and fortitude while performing their duties throughout the year.

This year, we were grateful to acknowledge forty-one individuals who exemplified outstanding on-the-job performances.

Our luncheon began with the Newark Firefighters Pipe Band leading in this year’s Valor Award recipients.  Lori A. Hennon-Bell, Vice President & Chief Security Officer/Global Security, Prudential Financial and President of the Two Hundred Club, gave a warm welcome and introduced Newark Police Detective Maysa Washington, who afforded the luncheon guests with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.  Ms. Hennon-Bell continued her welcome message and inspired us with an encouraging overview of the Club’s achievements and its future goals.

As our program continued we were able to receive words from Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, Honorary Trustee/Executive Committee Member of the Two Hundred Club, who saluted our finest and bravest.

Sheriff Fontoura proceeded to inform the audience that 2016 was another costly year in terms of lives lost by brave law enforcement officers and courageous firefighters.  Representing public safety departments across our nation, 144 law enforcement officers and 89 firefighters died in the line of duty.

Sheriff Fontoura went on to say that while Essex County was spared our New Jersey neighbors were not as fortunate.  Chief Engineer Richard Zadorozny of the Eatontown Fire Department on July 11th; Safety Officer Paul Price of the Audobon Fire Department on August 11th; Chief Engineer Daniel McCann of the Manasquan Fire Department on September 16th; F/F Joseph Bichler of the Evesham Fire Department on October 31st; Deputy Fire Coordinator of the Union County Office of Emergency Management on December 16th all suffered work-related heart attacks.  Firefighter Alfred Stewart of the West Milford Fire Department was killed when he fell from a ladder at the station house while performing maintenance on November 6th and New Jersey State Police Trooper Frankie Williams was killed when his marked unit was struck head-on while responding to a call for service on December 5th.

Sheriff Fontoura asked the audience to take a look at the Honor Roll page in the luncheon program to see that in Essex County 87 brave police officers and courageous firefighters have made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf.  He said “these valiant officers and firefighters hold a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of the people they served.  We mourn their untimely deaths.”  Sheriff Fontoura then asked everyone to bow their heads and offer a moment of silent prayer as we reflect and remember all fallen police officers and firefighters.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County was honored to have The Honorable Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark, as its guest speaker.  In his keynote address at The 200 Club of Essex County’s Valor Awards ceremony, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka highlighted the dedication to duty, professionalism and bravery of police officers and firefighters who, during times of crisis and danger, sacrifice their personal safety on behalf of their neighbors.  He specifically cited the heroic actions performed by this year’s Valor Award recipients who at the risk of life and limb confronted armed suspects and entered into raging residential fires.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County proudly presented its Meritorious Service Award to the Montclair Fire Department Group 3 and Deputy Essex County Fire Coordinator and Millburn Battalion Chief James Boyle for their outstanding group rescue on December 3, 2016, which saved the life of a man trapped underneath an oil tank.

Reverend Monsignor Christopher J. Hynes, Assistant to the Archbishop for Public Affairs, Archdiocese of Newark, graciously provided a warm and inspirational Invocation and Benediction.

In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations for their participation as 2017 Corporate Luncheon Sponsors:

• ASEABRA FOODS I, LLC
• CAW, LLC
• ESSEX COUNTY FIRE CHIEF’S ASSOCIATION
• ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, SHERIFF ARMANDO B. FONTOURA
• GATEWAY GROUP ONE
• INVESTORS BANK
• LISBON CLEANING INC.
• LUSO GLASS CO.
• MAFFEY’S SECURITY GROUP
• NANINA’S IN THE PARK
• PSE&G
• PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL
• RED HAWK FIRE & SECURITY LLC
• RED ROCK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
• SPIRIT DELIVERY & DISTRIBUTION SERVICES INC.
• STERLING SECURITIES LLC
• VERICON CONSTRUCTION CO., LLC
• VERIZON
• W. B. MASON