By Amber Cox
BORDENTOWN CITY Flags around the city are being flown at half-staff in honor of a 23-year-old former resident killed in Afghanistan.
Army Pfc. Benjamin Moore, 2006 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School and former EMT and lieutenant at Hope Hose Humane Fire Company, was killed in Ghanzi Province on Jan. 12, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Two other soldiers were also killed.
Pfc. Moore joined the fire company on West Burlington Street at the age of 16 after his interest in public service was piqued by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Fire Company Treasurer and EMS Supervisor Brian Maugeri on Monday said Pfc. Moore’s mother, Amy Moore, would always tell the members that he wanted to join the fire company when he got older.
”We took him under our wings when he was 16,” Mr. Maugeri said. “Within about three years he became a lieutenant for the fire company. Ben worked hard. He had a lot of good trainers here at the station.”
Company Chief Engineer Clarence “CC” Carter said Pfc. Moore was always dedicated.
”Ben was always there when you rode on the truck,” he said. “He always asked us for advice. He always asked question. He was always afraid to make a mistake but he never made any. He did his job well.”
The firemen said Pfc. Moore was always smiling, “kept them all going and was always ready to help anybody around here with anything.”
”Ben was part of the family,” Mr. Maugeri said. “I always used to kid him that I was going to write him off on my taxes.”
Mr. Maugeri also just learned that Pfc. Moore spent 16 hours at the hospital with Mr. Maugeri’s son and daughter-in-law while she was in labor.
”He was there the whole time she was in labor,” he said. “That’s kind of like what Ben was, he was really good to everybody.”
Assistant Chief Rob Brown didn’t know Mr. Moore as well as the other members but knew he gained a friend the first time he met him.
”While he was here, on both of his leaves, he made it a point to be here,” he said. “He got on our firetrucks when we had calls, took a couple of ambulance calls, that’s his dedication. He was dedicated to this service and you could see it. You could see the passion in his eyes when he was getting on the truck and doing what he needed to do.”
The firemen said that the loss has been hard on all of them because he really was a part of the family.
”We’re sticking together as a family to make sure he gets sent off the way he deserves to get sent off,” Mr. Brown said.
Mr. Carter said the members need to continue “on the way he would want us to.”
The firemen plan to send a firetruck and ambulance to Dover Air Force Base to help escort the remains to Bordentown, Mr. Maugeri said.
The city and the township are each sending a police car for the escort, city Mayor James Lynch said.
On Friday some100 friends gathered at Chickie’s & Pete’s on Route 130 to celebrate his life.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 12 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown City, are under the direction of the Peppler Funeral Home 122 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown City. Calling hours will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Crosswicks and Cemetery Lane. Firetrucks will serve as an escort to the cemetery where there will be a military service, including the ringing of a bell for passing, Mr. Maugeri said.
Among Pfc. Moores survivors are survived by his parents, Patrick and Amy Moore of Hamilton; a brother, Patrick T. 2nd; and his grandparents, Dolores and Thomas Moore of Bordentown City.
Bordentown City Special Officer Peter Sedor said he’s still trying to wrap his mind around everything.
”He’s going to be missed,” he said. “It’s heart wrenching, that’s pretty much where I’m at. I’m just numb.”
Pfc. Moore was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y.

