06/29/2005 | WR2G I operated 1B-single operator this year at the Cedar Knolls Firehouse in New Jersey. The Cedar Knolls Fire Department (CKFD) was extremely helpful for the 2005 ARRL field day. The department was very generous with their time, manpower, equipment and facilities. With their cooperation, I was able to erect and maintain antennas and emergency power continuously transmitting and receiving messages for over 24 hours. This year the RACES auxiliary station set a new personal record for me above last years. It was a great drill for emergency management and the fire department. Though many helped, Commissioner Gary Keyser, Chief Jim Davidson, Firefighter Frank DeSimone and Firefighter Craig Vagell, Jr. were particularly responsive assisting the operation.

Now if a communications breakdown occurred we would be communicating locally and world wide in minutes. Both CKFD and the RACES now know how to mutually set up and maintain communications in an emergency.

I am gratified to live in Hanover Township, NJ, a municipality where there is extraordinary cooperation from dedicated emergency personnel to insure the safety of the residents. -- WR2G