Bill Text: NY J02117 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending Firefighters James Christopher and Greg Smith upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-20 - ADOPTED [J02117 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02117-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2117

BY: Senator RANZENHOFER

        COMMENDING Firefighters James Christopher and Greg
        Smith  upon  the  occasion  of  their designation as
        recipients of a Liberty  Medal,  the  highest  honor
        bestowed  upon  an  individual by the New York State
        Senate

  WHEREAS, Citizens across the State of New York are inspired  by  and
indebted to our noble firefighters who exhibit courage and bravery every
day in the course of their duties; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York  State firefighters exemplify the power of human
compassion and the strength of the American spirit  through  actions  of
the   most   heroic  magnitude;  their  sacrifices  and  their  selfless
dedication merit tribute and recognition by all citizens of  this  great
Nation; and

  WHEREAS,   This   Legislative   Body  is  justly  proud  to  commend
Firefighters James Christopher and Greg Smith upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and

  WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established  by
Resolution  and  is  awarded  to  individuals  who  have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf  of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS,   Just   before  9  a.m.  on  Friday,  May  17,  2019,  the
Williamsville Fire Department responded to a fire at 327  Evans  Street,
and  instantly  smelled smoke; after being alerted from a neighbor there
might be someone  inside,  Chief  Richard  Maddigan  went  upstairs  and
noticed the door to the possible victim's apartment was very hot; and

  WHEREAS,   Firefighters   James  Christopher  and  Greg  Smith  from
Williamsville Engine 1 joined their Chief, and discovered the  fire  was
just inside the door; they immediately began searching the apartment for
the  resident, whom they found slumped near a chair, unresponsive and in
cardiac arrest; and

  WHEREAS, With help from their fellow firefighters, James Christopher
and Greg Smith quickly brought the man  to  safety  outside,  where  the
ambulance was waiting to initiate CPR; and

  WHEREAS,  Due  to  the prompt and courageous actions of Firefighters
James Christopher and Greg Smith, the  victim  was  saved  from  certain
death; and

  WHEREAS, Firefighters unwaveringly serve our great State with pride,
valor,  and integrity; these respected men and women are often the first
to respond to  an  emergency,  whether  the  emergency  is  a  fire,  an
accident,  natural  disaster, act of terrorism, medical crisis, or spill
of hazardous materials; and

  WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication,  a  strong  desire  to  help
others  and  a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with
family and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in  need;
James  Christopher and Greg Smith are such firefighters; they heroically
perform, above and beyond the call of duty, those responsibilities which
define the task of fire protection; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend firefighters James Christopher and Greg Smith upon the  occasion
of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor
bestowed  upon  an  individual  by  the New York State Senate; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to James Christopher and Greg Smith.