On Sunday, October 29, 2006, the members of Hose Company attended the Lynbrook Fire Department’s Annual Memorial Service at the Firefighter’s Memorial on Sunrise Highway.  Added to the memorial stone this year was the name of Hose Company member John J. Smillie who died in the line of duty on July 13, 1939 of an apparent heart attack.  His death in the line of duty was recently uncovered in an old newspaper story.

On July 13, 1939, Firefighter Smillie ran from his home on Walnut Street to the Blake Avenue fire house.  He boarded Hose Company’s rig and proceeded to a building fire at 220 Atlantic Avenue.  The fire was quickly extinguished by another unit but while Hose Company was preparing to leave Smillie collapsed and fell to ground.  He was attended by members of the Rescue Squad but they were unable to revive him.  Smillie had been a member of Hose Company since January 1913. 

After the memorial service and breakfast at the Knights of Columbus, the members of Hose Company, the chiefs of the department, and the Smillie family, all returned to Hose Company to unveil a plague on the upstairs wall in Smillie’s honor.