about

Fifty years ago in June 1963, the first patient of the Broadway Rescue Squad (later to be renamed the Franklin Township Rescue Squad on January 1, 1980, and again renamed the Franklin Township Fire Department - EMS Division in May of 2017) was transported to Warren Hospital. This patient was Frieda Ritter, a cardiac patient, and my grandmother. Unfortunately, Grandma died later that day of a heart attack.

Our family had moved to Franklin Township only about 2 and a half years before, coming from New York. We had no other family in New Jersey and all of Grandma's friends were elderly ladies in New York. We had no one to be pall bearers for the funeral.

Our neighbor, Morris Adams, "Moot" to all who knew him, was a founding father of the rescue squad and he and his wife had six sons, some of the very first members. Knowing our family had only young children, the Adams boys stepped up and offered the be the pall bearers at my Grandma's funeral.

I was only nine years old at the time but I have always remembered their kindness and caring for going above and beyond for their first patient. This meant so much to my family.

50 years later, I am proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful organization that does so much for our "family" of Franklin residents.

~ Karen Chiu, Franklin Township EMT