LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Firefighter Charles Peppard upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition after 75 years of
dedicated service to the West Sayville Fire Department

WHEREAS, Citizens across our State and Nation are inspired by and
indebted to our valiant firefighters who exhibit courage and bravery
every day in the course of their duties; and
WHEREAS, 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 country; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Firefighter Charles Peppard upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition after 75 years of dedicated service to the West
Sayville Fire Department at a special ceremony to be held on Sunday,
November 15, 2009, in conjunction with the dedication of its new Head-
quarters building; and
WHEREAS, Charles Peppard was born on June 5, 1917, in West Sayville,
New York, to Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Peppard; and
WHEREAS, Charles Peppard joined the West Sayville Juveniles (now known
as the junior fire department) in November 1925; and
WHEREAS, A very active juvenile member, Charles Peppard played on the
juvenile's basketball second team and was the high scorer in a December
9, 1932, win over the Sayville Hawk-eyes; he also sounded the alarm bell
for its last time as a member of the juveniles just before the original
West Sayville firehouse was vacated for the move in the new building in
1931; and
WHEREAS, In addition to serving the juveniles, Charles Peppard was
very active in Boy Scout Troop 16, where he earned recognition for first
aid training and signaling; he also played football while in Sayville
High School and earned a minor letter in track for being the assistant
manager of the track team; and
WHEREAS, Charles Peppard joined the West Sayville Fire Department on
November 2, 1934; he ran with the Flying Dutchmen Drill Team for several
years during his early days in the department; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, Charles Peppard became the Captain of the newly
formed Hose Company No. 1 in West Sayville and, as a result, was a
member of the West Sayville Fire Department Fire Council in its first
year of formation; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his distinguished tenure as a firefighter, Charles
Peppard has fought a number of significant fires in the area including
the Koster Kuenen Wax Factory (1955), the Patchin Home on Montauk High-
way (1956), the former Frank S. Jones estate at the foot of Benson
Avenue (1957), the Virginia Barrel Factory (1961), and the Island Hills
Country Club (1961); and
WHEREAS, In 1984, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York
(FASNY) honored Charles Peppard for 54 years of volunteer fire service;
and
WHEREAS, At the age of 74, Charles Peppard attended and successfully
completed the Suffolk County Fire Academy Fire Police Instruction Course
and thereafter was issued Volunteer ID number 1104 as a Fire Police
Officer by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, Charles Peppard participated with the senior members
of the fire department and the Ex-Chief's Organization in the complete
restoration of the fire department's original piece of apparatus, an
1891 Rumsey ladder cart; and

WHEREAS, Professionally, Charles Peppard worked as a bayman until
joining the Navy and returned to that occupation upon discharge; in
1952, after his father's passing, he took over the family business,
Peppard and Van Emmerik Moving and Storage in West Sayville; he success-
fully operated the business until selling it in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Charles Peppard joined the United States Navy in August 1939
and trained at the Naval Training Station at Newport, Rhode Island; he
proudly served aboard the U.S.S. Wyoming as the Head Boilerman until
just after the invasion of Saipan in 1944; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his daughter, Nancy, who feels
privileged to be a part of his life and rejoices in his achievements;
and
WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout
the Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the ardu-
ous field of fire protection and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Since the early days of "teapot steamers," the volunteer
firefighter has been the cornerstone of our great Nation's efforts to
spare us from the ravages of fire; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters and fire departments not only provide
the critical service of fire protection but also engage in other activ-
ities of great benefit and importance to the communities they serve; 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; Charles
Peppard is such a firefighter; throughout 75 years of devoted service,
this volunteer heroically performed, 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 Firefighter Charles Peppard for 75 years of distinguished
service to the West Sayville Fire Department; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Charles Peppard.