Rio Grande fire commissioners and Fire Company members team up to add Ockie Wisting flagpoles
Middle Township will acknowledge contributors during July 13 concert at the rec complex
Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex is named for a veteran Rio Grande Fire Company member. Now the site has two flagpoles that were donated and installed with the help of the fire commissioners and fire company.
Middle Township’s Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex recently received a patriotic donation from the Rio Grande fire commissioners – two brand-new flagpoles.
Former Fire Commissioner J. Gregory Neill was attending a summer concert at the Ockie Wisting Complex when Mayor Tim Donohue expressed interest in a flagpole for the park, which opened in 2017. Neill, whose family previously participated in flagpole donations in the Township, decided to spearhead the new effort at Ockie Wisting.
Now the flagpoles are up, and Middle Township will honor all who contributed to it at an upcoming summer concert on Tuesday, July 13.
The District 2 Rio Grande fire commissioners donated the flags and poles. Firefighters from Rio Grande’s all-volunteer District 2 supplied water for the concrete and helped pour the concrete. John McNulty, owner of Bayshore Landscaping, donated the concrete and additional labor.
Ockie Wisting already had a special tie to the local fire company. The complex is named for Robert O. “Ockie” Wisting, a 51-year member of the Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Company, who lost his life during a fire call. Wisting is the only fire fighter in Middle Township killed in the line of duty.
Neill, who is still a Rio Grande firefighter, rallied support for the project among members of the Middle Township Fire District #2 and the Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Company. He said he wanted this project to have meaning to those who visit Ockie Wisting.
An additional flagpole, contributed by the same group, is located at the Railroad Ave Recreation Complex.
“The Township greatly appreciates the additions of the flagpoles to both Ockie Wisting and Railroad Ave Recreation Complex,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “We’re thankful to Greg Neill and his family for leading the initiative and all those who contributed to the projects.”
“This is our way of honoring past and present firefighters and past and present fire commissioners for their service and commitment to the fire district and the Township of Middle,” said Neill.
Neill noted that the American flag became particularly important to his family after his son, William, joined the United States Marines Corps. five years ago. Neill and his family previously were involved in flag donations at the Rio Grande Fire Company and two at Goshen Complex.
