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Mutual aid wedding

By TODD HOLLRITT
Correspondent
1st Responder Newspaper
Story Number is 032305134
By Todd Hollritt
Firefighters Beth and George pose with their respective Fire Engines.
By Todd Hollritt
The bride arrives in her Pierce Limo!
WEST PATERSON / PATERSON, NJ - On Friday March 18th 2005 at 3:30 in the afternoon mutual aid of a different kind took place. The City of Paterson Fire Department and the West Paterson Volunteer Fire Department have a long history of working with each other at incidents, but on this day they were brought together for a festive occasion, to celebrate the marriage of two firefighters.

The bride, Firefighter Elizabeth Anne Melhorn, is assigned to Paterson Engine 3. The groom, Firefighter George V. Fournier Jr., is a volunteer with West Paterson Engine 3.

The bride is employed with the City of Paterson Fire Department. She is a graduate of Salisbury State University in Maryland. Her husband is an audiovisual design draftsperson and graduate of The Center for the Media Arts in New York City. He is not only a fireman with Eng. Co. 3 “The Ridge Runners,” he is also vice president of the West Paterson Volunteer Fire Department.

The ceremony took place at Saint Bonaventure's Church in Paterson. The bride and her father arrived at the church riding in West Paterson Engine 3 with a full lights and siren response. Bagpipes provided by the Passaic County Emerald Society played as she entered the church. Father John Piccone presided over the festivities. He also serves Paterson and West Paterson fire departments as Fire Chaplain. (Father John was previously profiled in 1st Responder, check story number 112204100.)

After the ceremony, Paterson Engine 3 and West Paterson Engine 3 with Bride and Groom responded to Garret Mountain Park. Both apparatus were photographed at the scenic overlook with the wedding party before the newlyweds departed for their reception.

The wedding was declared under control well after midnight.
By By Todd Hollritt
The entire bridal party posed with both Engine 3's. That's West Paterson's 2001 Pierce and Paterson's E-One... a "Double Pumper" ceremony!		 By By Todd Hollritt
Father John Piccone with the happy couple just after the ceremony.
By Todd Hollritt
As the couple left the Church, guests and members of both Departments were among the well wishers.
By Todd Hollritt
Even the wedding cake had a firematic flare, two Tower Ladders lettered for the departments were raised as a red "Flame" fountian raged on the first floor of the cake. Of course it was topped with a bride and groom in full turmouts!
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