Senate Resolution No. 4860

BY: Senator SERINO

COMMENDING Brian Geary 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, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
caring concern and heroic acts of exemplary citizens who take prompt and
appropriate action in emergency situations, and in doing so, help others
to avert life-threatening danger; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Brian
Geary 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, Early in the morning on Thursday, April 19, 2018, a woman
driving south on the Taconic Parkway crashed into a rocky ledge and the
vehicle rolled onto its side near Exit 14 in Yorktown, New York; and

WHEREAS, Fortunately, Brian Geary was driving to his job with
Metro-North Railroad on that dark and chilly morning, when, out of the
corner of his eye, he saw orange flames coming from the engine of a
rolled over car; and

WHEREAS, Brian Geary immediately pulled his car over to the side of
the road and called 911; he then went over to the car with a flashlight
and saw a woman wedged diagonally in the front of the car; he recognized
she was unresponsive when she did not answer his calls; and

WHEREAS, After realizing the doors of her vehicle were locked, Brian
Geary ran back to his car and retrieved the bat that he used when
playing for the Dutchess County Men's Hardball League; as he began to
hit the windshield with the bat, two other drivers stopped to help; and

WHEREAS, After several swings, the windshield began to crack and
Brian Geary began to punch holes into the sides of the windshield with
the bat so he could pull it off the vehicle; once he removed the
windshield, he pulled the woman out of the burning vehicle, and with the
help of a passerby, he carried her to safety on the side of the road
just as her vehicle became engulfed in flames; and

WHEREAS, The woman was coming in and out of consciousness, and Brian
Geary comforted her as they waited for first responders; shortly
thereafter, Yorktown Heights firefighters arrived and extinguished the

flames, while the Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps tended to the woman
and rushed her to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries; and

WHEREAS, Praised for his swift actions, Brian Geary demonstrated his
true character and genuine compassion for the welfare of others,
personifying, by virtue of his actions, the collective concern of
ordinary citizens across the community of the State of New York who
voluntarily respond when others are in need; and

WHEREAS, Justly recognized as a hero, Brian Geary richly merits the
admiration of this Legislative Body and his community for his consummate
courage and heroic actions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Brian Geary 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 Brian Geary.