Mayor Brian Stack and the Union City Board of Commissioners announced last week that the city was renaming the section of Bergenline Avenue between 18th and 19th streets to "Vincent Neglia Way" in honor and memory of the firefighter.
Neglia was killed fighting a five alarm fire on that block of Union City on Sept. 9. 2006.
"Nothing can replace Vinnie, but we just want you to know that his memory will always live on in Union City," said Stack to Neglia's family.
The ceremony took place at noon with members of the NHRFR including Chief Brion McEldowney and Fire Chaplin Father S.T. Sutton, who gave the opening prayer and comforted tearful family members in attendance.
"[That day] Vinnie demonstrated the courage that those of us at NHRFR already knew he had," said McEldowney. "He was a hero, and he set an example for other firefighters to learn from and to emulate."
Stack and the Board of Commissioners also offered their own condolences to the family, which included Neglia's daughter Nicole Patilla, and his sisters Nancy Failla and Angela Starling.
The commissioners and the family placed a wreath at the site, where Neglia made his last stand, and then unveiled the new street sign.
After the ceremony, Father Sutton, who held Neglia's tearful daughter, comforted and prayed with the family. Neglia's sister Angela had placed a bouquet of flowers with his picture tied to the street pole.
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