Mayor Richard Franzen gave the following remarks at the new Emergency Services Building dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 16 in Tabernacle.
“Good Morning, everyone, and welcome.
Fellow elected officials, Chief Jackson, Col. Lowe, Chief Smith, all our dedicated EMTs, fire fighters, citizen volunteers, special guests, friends, and neighbors:
Thank you. Thank you one and all for sharing in today’s festivities and ceremony. Thank you one and all for your dedication to this community, and to the public interest and the safety and well being of each of us.
Let it be said loud and clear: Tabernacle takes care of its own.
And this building will stand as a tall and proud monument to that declaration.
All across Burlington County, and I daresay the state and nation, the struggle to maintain volunteer services is much in evidence. But here in Tabernacle, our first responders are still, first and all, our neighbors.
This is community service of the highest order. And I would ask you to join me in paying recognition to these dedicated individuals, and applauding them, at this time.
You know, Tabernacle is really a remarkable community. We have an interesting cross-section of old-timers and newcomers. Some wear that Piney label proudly. Others really can’t, but want to.
But there is a marvelous meld at work. We like one another. We work together. We coach sports together, we participate in local organizations together, and, of course, we care about one another.
This Emergency Services Building is a testament to that local melting pot.
Township Committee always knew this facility was much in need. But when a group of citizens questioned that need, and put forth a petition challenging that need, it was left to our residents, our voters to decide.
My friends, no one — and I mean no one — expected the good people of Tabernacle to approve a referendum to invest serious capital dollars in a new building — not during a recession.
But they did approve the referendum, and the project moved forward.
I will tell you — there was a serious informational campaign to garner support for the referendum. Individuals outside the inner circle rallied to make sure that campaign was effective. Squad members put up their own personal dollars, energy and enthusiasm to make sure residents understood this genuine need.
There was even an ad hoc, unaffiliated group of worried citizens who went “over the top” to promote passage of the referendum. Setting signs throughout the township, they urged residents to tour the existing building and understand why a change was needed. 15 people accepted that challenge and came away committed to promoting that change.
I’m not only proud of those who poured their hearts and soul into making this building a reality — I’m proud of our residents who understood why it is so important to us all.
The very existence of this building means home insurance savings for most of our residents. But you really can’t put a dollar value on this project.
At the end of the day, we now have a place where all our Emergency Squad vehicles actually fit. Our emergency management resources have a home. And our fire company has a serious stake in this, because of the central location.
From this day on, I ask, hope and pray that all our emergency units, all our first responders, work together, for the betterment of their respective organizations, and all of those in Tabernacle they are sworn to protect.
And for the record, this is an historic occasion. It will be a long time before you see a building, and a ceremony, like this one, in a proud Pinelands community like ours. So remember this moment. Revel in the moment.
Thank you and God bless you all.”
