'Neighbors Caring For Neighbors': Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association Celebrates 75 Years

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WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — The Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association, Inc. recently celebrated 75 years of dedicated service to the community with a heartfelt ceremony at the Village Green — marked by stories of years' past, lives saved and forever bonds forged.

"Serving the community since 1950, our volunteer-driven corps responds to over 1,600 emergency calls each year, providing lifesaving care to the residents of Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, West Hampton Dunes, Remsenburg, Speonk, Eastport, Quogue, and Quiogue," members of the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association, Inc. said.

The festivities included a parade beginning at St. Marks Church down Main Street to the Village Green, complimentary refreshments, live music, and face painting.

The event drew ambulance volunteers young and old, all filled with mutual respect and pride for a calling that has them heading out in the dark and cold, rushing to the scenes of crashes fires without a moment's hesitation.

At the event, Glenn Dorskind, one of the leaders of the Westhampton War Memorial Junior Ambulance program, said currently, there are 90 young people enrolled in the two-year program, high school sophomores and juniors learning critical skills.

Organizer and Committee Chair Craig Ferrantino said the volunteers rarely have a moment for events meant to celebrate their achievements. "Ambulance people just keep working — they get 1600 calls a year," he said.

He, too, lauded the juniors' program, which he said was the largest in the United States. "There is no program like it."

Westhampton Beach War Memorial Ambulance Association Chief Robert Bancroft addressed those gathered: "None of this is possible without any of you. You just show up when it’s needed," he said. "I can’t thank you enough for your sacrifice and dedication."

75 years ago, he said, the founding members had a thought: "How do we help our community?" Today, there's no place in the Westhampton area, even out on Dune Road, "where you can go, that you're not taken care of. This is about the ambulance company — but it's also about community," he said.

Chris Isola, who applied to serve at 18 and is the oldest serving member, reflected on his rich history with the Westhampton Beach War Memorial Ambulance Association.

"There's no greater feeling than when you help somebody," he said. When he was 11 years old, his friend's dog jumped in the canal, and he saved him. "I was hooked," he said.

Isola became a lifeguard and, while he was on duty, someone had a heart attack — and he headed to the ER in his bathing suit, he said. But the love of service had taken deep root, and soon, he joined his fellow ambulance members.

"This really is a community ambulance," Isola said, remembering how many volunteers had owned local businesses in the area.

Times have changed, he said. "We used to carry pagers. We had to know where the pay phones were, and had to keep a quarter taped, to use — look how far we've come." The first ambulance was an "old yellow-and-white Cadillac," he said, and the first cell phones cost about 29 cents a minute. There was the time, he said, when a hearse was used as an ambulance — and both the priest and the undertaker were volunteers, startling some when they appeared at a scene.

Isola shared some of the moments in history that ambulance members had taken part in, some tragic — including the crash of TWA Flight 800, when federal officials used the ambulance's basement as an operations center. And, too, there was the Sunrise Fire of 1995 — and so many other moments of fear and uncertainty when, armed with adrenaline and a deep-seated sense of caring and duty, volunteers rushed to help. "It really is a community," he said.

Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Ralph Urban said he could attest to the value of the community ambulance, who responded when his family was in need. "I appreciate that," he said.

Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore, who is also the former Westhampton Beach Village Mayor, read a proclamation, stating that volunteers "answer the call during the darkest of hours with courage, compassion and commitment. It's about neighbors caring for neighbors, and professionals bringing their skills," she said.

For Moore, the gratitude she feels to volunteers is deeply personal, she said. She recalled a time when, 27 years ago, her daughter had a febrile seizure. Despite the gripping fear and panic, once the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance crew arrived, their presence instilled a sense of calm, she said. "That's the kind of quiet heroism that doesn’t make headlines but shapes communities," she said.

Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer recalled a similar moment when the ambulance's response meant everything, when her daughter was just two years old. "We called the ambulance," but before the ambulance even arrived, EMTs were in her driveway "because they'd heard the call and knew where I lived," she said. "That's what small towns, communities, are all about. We take care of each other. We thank you — and we celebrate this anniversary with you."

The event featured a variety of local food vendors including Justin's Chop Shop, Mr. Softee, roasted corn on the cob, and fresh lemonade.

The 75th Anniversary celebration was a way for the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association, Inc. to give back to the residents, businesses, and visitors that have supported its life-saving mission throughout the years, event organizers said.

"This anniversary marks a significant milestone for our organization, and we are thrilled to celebrate with the community that has supported us for over seven decades," said Bancroft. "Our volunteers have been dedicated to providing care to those in need, and we’re excited to celebrate our legacy while giving back to the communities we serve."