Senate Resolution No. 577

BY: Senator LITTLE

COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the Saranac
Lake Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated on
August 13, 2016

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
125th Anniversary of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department and to
honor its past and present firefighting members for more than a century
of fire protection to the citizens of Saranac Lake, New York, and its
surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will kick off with a grand parade
through downtown Saranac Lake featuring the Quigley Highlanders Band
from Ontario, Canada, on Saturday, August 13, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the day, the celebration will continue with a
"touch a truck" apparatus display featuring fire trucks from all around
the area at the Saranac Lake Civic Center, as well as entertainment for
children including Belly Button the Clown, bounce houses, face painting,
cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers and much more; topping off the
festivities, the Saint Joseph Rehabilitation Center will host a Chicken
Barbecue dinner featuring live entertainment from Elvis Presley
impersonator Donny Romines (Donny Elvis) inside the Civic Center; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 125
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Saranac Lake
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, 125 years ago in this small Adirondack town, Eugene
Woodruff from the Woodruff Hose Company and Milo Miller from the Miller
Hose Company, raced against each other to be first on scene when fires
arose; and

WHEREAS, In 1891, these two rugged men had the foresight to
understand that instead of competing it would be more efficient to work
together; under their leadership, the Woodruff and Miller Hose Companies
joined forces to become the Woodruff-Miller Hose Company, officially
creating what was to become the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department;
and

WHEREAS, The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department has a very long
and proud history of community service which continues today under the
luminous leadership of Chief Brendan Keough; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department was
instrumental in aiding New York City following the attacks of 9/11;
several members were dispatched with R-148 to provide Emergency Medical
Service (EMS) coverage in a mutual aid capacity to a staging area;
eventually, the members were moved forward to assist in providing EMS
coverage to Ground Zero; and

WHEREAS, In October and November of 2012, crews from the Saranac
Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire
Department, and from throughout Franklin County were deployed to the New
York City area in the wake of "Superstorm Sandy"; the Saranac Lake and
Tupper Lake members provided relief by manning the station and responses
of Engine Company 214 of the Freeport Long Island Fire Department whose
members suffered damage and destruction of their personal homes; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department in public service and fire
protection is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year,
for 125 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 the Saranac Lake 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, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department
reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 125
years; 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 125th Anniversary of the Saranac Lake Volunteer
Fire Department to be celebrated on August 13, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chief Brendan Keough, Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire
Department.