FREEHOLD — Young families gathered at the Freehold Public Library recently for a celebration of hometown heroes.
“I think sometimes we think of heroes as distant or as celebrities, but heroes are everyday people,” said Kathy Mulholland, senior library assistant.
During a meet and greet with local heroes that was held in the library’s Appleyard Family Reading Garden, children and their parents learned about heroes in the community. The “heroes” even signed autographs for the children.
Firefighters, U.S. Army National Guard representatives and a teacher spoke to the children about what they do in their roles serving the community.
“Firefighting is a very difficult job, a very rewarding job and a dangerous job that requires constant training,” said Nick Palumbo, a former chief of the East Freehold Fire Company, Freehold Township, and a retiree from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Palumbo said “kids gravitate toward firefighters because they see them as safe.”
Reggie Sims, who has been a volunteer firefighter in Freehold Borough for 24 years, also attended the event. Sims said it was important to make a contribution.
Two members of the U.S. Army National Guard, Steven Garratano and John Labozzetta, agreed it is important to give back to the community through their service.
Laura Giannone of Freehold participated in the event with her three children.
“These are the real heroes,” Giannone said of the library’s guests.
Jean Schiller, a Park Avenue Elementary School bilingual first grade teacher, was also honored as a hero.
“We are the first step with reading, writing, mathematics and social studies themes. We show them (students) to love reading,” Schiller said.
Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer took a few moments to express gratitude to the borough’s hometown heroes.
“We are here to honor and thank our heroes,” she said.