Contributed by: CBrining
By CHRISTOPHER RAMIREZ, Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | 1 comment
Not many people know the location of every fire hydrant in Somers Point better than Jon Beamer Jr.
Beamer for the past five months has guided a plan to paint the iconic fireman's Maltese cross on the pavement in front of city fire hydrants. The symbol assists firefighters in locating hydrants....Continue Reading
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Beamer, 15, took on the task as his service project for reaching Eagle Scout, the highest possible rank in Boy Scouts.
The work was completed during each of the final two weekends in October, though Beamer began to prepare long before then.
He was required to receive approval from Boy Scout leaders and the Somers Point Volunteer Fire Company. He also appeared before the city council to obtain its endorsement.
"There are a lot of fire hydrants, and it seemed as though a hards task," Beamer said, "but once it came together it was easier."
Beamer's project benefited from the support of numerous local businesses that donated paint, supplies and logo templates. His cause also was taken up by a host of volunteers who completed the actual painting since Beamer was suppose to assume solely a leadership role.
Three crews of Boy Scouts from Troop 55 and their parents initially setout on Oct. 25 to fulfill the goal of painting 80 symbols. But with extra paint and seeking to leave no question that Beamer completed his project, the groups returned the following weekend to finish off the unpainted locations.
In all, Beamer and his band of volunteers painted 155 symbols, which accounted for all city-zoned hydrants in Somers Point, not including those on county streets or roads that are due to be repaved.
"It's pretty nice when you can go down a street and pick out a hydrant from that logo," Fire Chief Frank Denan said.
Denan added the symbols were painted previously but that was about 10 years ago and they had since faded.
Beamer, a sophomore at Mainland Regional High School, must now detail his project in writing and answer questions from a review board before officially becoming an Eagle Scout. He said it's a relief to have so much work out of the way.
"It was pretty hard, but I learned a lot of from it, and I'm just glad I had the chance to do something like that," Beamer said.
Contact Christopher Ramirez:
609-272-7147
Posted in Atlantic on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:00 am
Elwood Fire Rescue
https://www.evfc160.com/main/article.php/2009111808010280