Senate Resolution No. 651

BY: Senator ANTONACCI

COMMENDING Firefighter Neil Bailer upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition
after 50 years of dedicated service to the Amber
Fire Department

WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout
the Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the
arduous 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, This Legislative Body is proud to commend Firefighter Neil
Bailer upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition
after 50 years of dedicated service to the Amber Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Neil Bailer joined the Amber Fire Department in August of
1968, and has been a very active member, holding several leadership
positions; and

WHEREAS, Neil Bailer held all line officer positions, rising through
the ranks and becoming Chief of the Department from 1995-1999; he was
also active with the Amber Fire Department Ambulance Squad, serving for
many years as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT); and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Neil Bailer has served in many executive
officer positions, including President, and most recently, as a member
of the Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Early in his fire service career, Neil Bailer became
interested in training other members of the department in his expertise
from the many fire and rescue courses he had taken, as well as his own
personal experiences responding to and managing many serious fires,
accidents, and other emergency situations; and

WHEREAS, Neil Bailer displayed a natural ability to train, and did
so in a way that resulted in active learning and participation in those
training programs; and

WHEREAS, While he served as Chief, Neil Bailer encouraged many of
his officers and members to further their fire service education and
professional development by taking national qualifications courses and
becoming certified at various positions within the Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his service as Chief and training officer in
the Amber Fire Department, Neil Bailer served in various fire service
positions within the fire district, Western Section, and Onondaga
County; currently, he serves as a Fire Commissioner for the Otisco Fire
District; and

WHEREAS, One of Neil Bailer's most rewarding fire service
accomplishments was being elected to serve on the Onondaga County Fire

Advisory Board; he represented the 20 fire departments which made up the
Western Section Line Officers Association; and

WHEREAS, In addition to being a firefighter, Neil Bailer owns and
operators his family dairy farm, and has always been a devoted husband
and father; he also found time to serve his community as a Town
Councilman, and a Trustee of the Amber Congressional Church; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters and fire departments not only
provide the critical service of fire protection but also engage in other
activities 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;
Neil Bailer is such a firefighter; throughout 50 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 Neil Bailer for 50 years of distinguished service;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Firefighter Neil Bailer.