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The wheels were churning for Jessica Davis and Ricklin Harmening following the death of Army Specialist Benjamin G. Moore in 2011 and Pete Reed, a humanitarian worker and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in 2023.
They both wanted to do something for their fellow Bordentown natives as well as military comrades. Davis and Harmening currently serve in the U.S. Air Force and like Moore and Reed, they attended and graduated from Bordentown Regional High School.
It took a few years, but they came together and have formed Bordentown Hometown Heroes, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for local police, fire departments, EMTs (emergency medical technicians), active military, veterans, teachers, and educators. They are committed to honoring and supporting the brave men and women who serve their community.
“It came about as a mutual interest that brought us together,” Davis said of the non-profit that was launched in March.
They have teamed up with Bill Hartz, of Bordentown Spartan Bootcamp, not only with the nonprofit, but to host a challenge run on Sept 15 at Joseph Lawrence Park.
The trio initially were discussing putting together a 5K and it has evolved into a 1.5-mile challenge run with different exercise challenges along the route.
Funds from the challenge run will support the local firehouses in Bordentown Township and Bordentown City.
Mission Fire Company District No. 1 is a combination of volunteer/career staffed fire company that provides fire, rescue, and emergency services to the approximately 10,000 residents that live in Bordentown Township’s 9.3 square miles.
Derby Fire Company District No. 2 provides public safety, community outreach and knowledge possible to the residents and visitors of the township of Bordentown and all who request services. Derby station staffing includes nine firefighters, three lieutenants, one captain and one chief who offer 24-hour coverage to the township of Bordentown working a three-platoon system. Each platoon consists of one lieutenant and three firefighters.
Consolidated Fire Association is a 100% volunteer firehouse that provides fire, rescue and fire police to the residents that live in Bordentown City.
Consolidated Fire Association was established on July 5, 1966 when the Citizen Hook and Ladder Co., The Delaware Fire Co. and Weccacoe Hose Co. dissolved and merged into one new fire association. The current fire station on Crosswicks Street was dedicated Oct. 24, 1970.
Hope Hose Humane Co. No. 1 has been serving the Bordentown community and its surrounding communities for over 252 years of Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Marine Rescue Service.
Moore gave his life in service to the country while serving in Afghanistan on Jan. 12, 2011. Moore was a 2006 graduate of Bordentown Regional High School, and joined the U.S. Army in April of 2009, training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before being stationed in Fort Drum, New York.
While serving with the 693rd Sapper Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, Moore was killed in action on Jan. 12, 2011 in the Ghazni Province at the age of 23.
Moore was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations for his heroism, patriotism, and service to the United States. These included the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal.
By all accounts, Pete Reed wore many selfless hats as a humanitarian worker and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He was working with Global Outreach Doctors (GoDocs) on their Ukraine mission “to provide emergent medical transport with 11 ambulances from the UK and Khaled El Mayet,” according to the GoDocs website.
Reed founded Global Response Medicine (GRM) in 2017 in response to the Battle for Mosul. He served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps in Third Battalion, Eighth Marines from 2007-2011. GoDocs has been on the ground since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Reed joined GoDocs as its Ukraine Country Director in January of that year.
Following the Challenge Run, Davis, Harmening and Hartz look to continue to host more events to honor their hometown heroes.
“We are getting the ball rolling to support our firefighters, EMTs,” Harmening said.
For more information and to sign up for the Challenge Run visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Bordentown/BordentownHometownHeroChallengeRun.
For more information about Bordentown Hometown Heroes visit www.bordentownhh.org.
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