Bill Text: NY J01780 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated on May 2, 2024

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-02-13 - ADOPTED [J01780 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01780-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1780

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        COMMEMORATING the 80th Anniversary of Westmoreland
        Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated on May 2,
        2024

  WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, for 24 hours a
day,  for  365  days  a  year, for 80 years, whenever the alarm sounded,
these noble volunteers left their homes and went to  the  aid  of  their
neighbors; and

  WHEREAS,  The  brave  firefighters  of  Westmoreland  Volunteer Fire
Department are prepared to risk their lives every day to help  save  the
lives  of  others and to protect homes and property from the destruction
caused by fire; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is  proud  to  commemorate  the  80th
Anniversary  of  Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department and to honor its
past and present firefighting members for 80 years of fire protection to
the citizens of Westmoreland, New York and its surrounding  communities;
and

  WHEREAS,  Located  in  a  rural  residential  area in central Oneida
County, Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department has a  response  coverage
area  of  55 square miles, protecting a resident population in excess of
6,000 people; the coverage area includes a ten mile section of  the  New
York State Thruway, I-90, between the Utica, Exit 31 and Verona, Exit 33
exchanges,  the  Thruway's Oneida Service Plaza, and also includes major
gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and natural gas pipelines; and

  WHEREAS, Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department was formed on May 2,
1944; eighteen men of the Community met and formed the  fire  department
on  that  day, and later, in July of 1944, 37 men attended a meeting and
were considered the charter members of the Organization; and

  WHEREAS, In October of 1944, the Town Board appointed the first five
Commissioners, and shortly after a  500-gallon  Pump,  a  1939  Brockway
truck, and other vital equipment was acquired; and

  WHEREAS,  Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department's first call was on
March 6, 1947; in September 1947 the Fire Department  was  incorporated;
and

  WHEREAS,  In  1948,  Westmoreland  Volunteer Fire Department's first
annual banquet was held at Gavin's Restaurant; then, in  1950  the  Fire
Department  held  its  first  annual  "Field days" and the Commissioners
purchased the Department's first new fire truck which was  delivered  in
October; and

  WHEREAS,  In January of 1961, Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department
held its first meeting in the new Main Street firehouse and in 1962  the
"Home alert" radio system was put in service; and

  WHEREAS,  Coming  from  humble  beginnings  on  Main  Street  in the
Village,  Westmoreland  Volunteer  Fire  Department  established   their

current  station  on  Station  Road; the department serves a diversified
fire district, which includes  single  and  multiple  family  dwellings,
large  and  small  family  farms,  a  K-12 School District, and business
structures; and

  WHEREAS,   Fire  departments  are  an  integral  part  of  community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the  past  80
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of Westmoreland Volunteer
Fire   Department   have  valiantly  responded  to  all  types  of  fire
emergencies and have won the praise and respect of the  community  which
they serve; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude
to those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative  Body  that  we  should
give  special  recognition  to  those  who  work  so assiduously for the
betterment of their communities, and  acknowledge  publicly  the  heroic
good  works  performed  by  the volunteer fire departments of this great
Empire State, their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
proudly  commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Westmoreland Volunteer Fire
Department to be celebrated on May 2, 2024; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Westmoreland Fire Chief Jeffrey Grube.