Garden City Park brothers join armed forces

Richard Tedesco

Garden City Park firefighter Jim Salim knew that his two firefighter sons, Jamil and Matthew, could well be in harm’s way when they told him they were planning to enlist in the armed forces.

But he still gave them his blessing.

“When you’re raising your kids, you don’t want them to regret pursuing what they desire to do,” the elder Salim said. “I’m aware of the dangers of what they’re doing, but it’s in their hearts and that’s what they want to do.”

His elder son, Jamil, 21, left for basic training in Fort Benning, GA, to become a paratrooper in the U.S. Army earlier this month. His younger son, Matthew, will leave for Air Force basic training on March 8.

While their father said he and his wife, Ydelsa, were both supportive of their sons’ decisions, he said his wife cried during the three days following Jamil’s departure on Feb. 2.

The 44-year-old Salim and his older son had served in the same unit, Engine Company 4, of the Garden City Fire Department. Jamil had joined the department three years ago. His father joined the department in 2003 and played a key role in the formation of the junior firefighters organization that Matthew served in before becoming a regular member of the Garden City Park volunteers one year ago.

“He was instrumental in forming the junior firefighters. He was one of the founders,” said Garden City Park Fire Department Chief William Rudnick.

“They’re hard-working members of the department who really put forth an effort to serve the community and the public,” Garden City Park Assistant Chief Robert Mirabile.

Jim Salim thinks the sense of service they acquired from being members of the Garden City Park volunteers informed their decisions to join the military.

“I believe that by being in the FD, by seeing all the rescue that we do, it kind of opened their eyes to various things they can do to help out,” Salim said.

Salim said the discipline of serving in a chain of command will also help them in the military.

Salim’s 15-year-old daughter, Rachael, is currently a member of the Garden City Park junior firefighters.

Both sons sought his advice when they considered joining the respective branches of the military. The younger son made his decision while he was still in high school, according to Salim, who said his older son made the determination one year ago.

They were given a memorable send-off in a party at the Garden City Park Fire Department headquarters late last month, with 75 friends, fellow firefighters and members of the Salim family in attendance.

The priest who married Jim and Ydelsa in 1988, retired Monsignor Walter Murphy, also attended the send-off to give the two young men his blessing.

Salim has known the priest since he served as an altar boy with Murphy when he was at Sacred Heart years ago.

“It was a touching thing for him to come and bless our children,” Salim said.

E-mail:rtedesco@theislandnow.com

 

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