Senate Resolution No. 4283

BY: Senator YOUNG

HONORING Firefighter Marcus Fosberg upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of a
Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate

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

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the caring concern and heroic acts of individuals who take
immediate and appropriate action in emergency situations, nobly risking
their own lives in an effort to preserve the life and property of
another; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Firefighter Marcus Fosberg upon the occasion of his designation as
recipient 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, On Sunday, January 14, 2018, Firefighter Marcus Fosberg, an
eight-year veteran of the Falconer Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.,
responded solo to the scene of a structure fire on West Main Street in
Falconer, New York; and

WHEREAS, Immediately accessing the situation, Marcus Fosberg quickly
learned there were four individuals, including two small children, who
were in imminent danger on the third floor of the building; and

WHEREAS, Disregarding his own personal safety and acting in a manner
which personifies the finest traditions of those who place their own
life in peril to save others, Marcus Fosberg bravely and without
hesitation placed Ladder 401 in position and single handedly secured it
for action to begin the rescue; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter Marcus Fosberg then began to extend the ladder
with only himself in the bucket to reach the third story windows where
the victims were located; he successfully navigated the ladder safely
through the phone and cable lines with precise skill; and

WHEREAS, This brave firefighter was able to reach the family of four
and began to extricate the children first, and then guided the parents
to the safety of the Ladder 401 Bucket; and

WHEREAS, Within seconds of the rescue, thick black smoke billowed
out of the windows where the family stood just moments earlier;
Firefighter Marcus Fosberg is a true hero; and


WHEREAS, Firefighter Marcus Fosberg remained on the scene throughout
the evening, working tirelessly to restore safety and order to a
traumatized and shocked neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, the following day Firefighter Marcus Fosberg
was involved in the rescue of three family cats who had been missing
since the start of the incident; the cats were reunited with their
owners safely and in good health; and

WHEREAS, So aptly demonstrating his character and compassion for the
welfare of his neighbors, Firefighter Marcus Fosberg truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; 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
actions performed by the volunteer firefighters of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Firefighter Marcus Fosberg upon the occasion of his designation as
recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Firefighter Marcus Fosberg.