Senate Resolution No. 614

BY: Senator RITCHIE

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department and to honor its
past and present firefighting members for their providing 100 years of
fire protection to the citizens of Heuvelton, New York, and its
surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, The Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department's rich heritage is
rooted in the efforts of a small group of volunteers who came together a
century ago to protect the homes and businesses of their neighbors and
friends; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Claude H. Preston, the Department's
first chief, 26 charter members organized the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire
Department on April 17, 1921; and

WHEREAS, Since then, hundreds of men and women have proudly served
in the ranks of the volunteer fire service in Heuvelton; and

WHEREAS, The Department originally rang the fire bell from St.
Raphael's Church bell tower until 1932, when a siren was put into
service as a way to help alert the members and the community; and

WHEREAS, The Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department's first piece of
fire apparatus was a hand drawn chemical cart that was purchased in 1924
to help extinguish blazes; this did not, however, eliminate the use of
buckets, which remained in use to refill the cylinders as soon as they
were emptied; and

WHEREAS, In 1930, the Department purchased its first "modern" fire
engine from the Sanford Motor Truck Company for $7,250; currently, this
vehicle is on display at the firehouse; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, the Department has assembled an extensive
collection of modern firefighting equipment, including tankers, which
have allowed members to protect the Heuvelton community and surrounding
area, responding to a wide variety of emergencies; and

WHEREAS, Thanks to extensive and regular training, the Heuvelton
Volunteer Fire Department and its members are an integral part of
community protection services for surrounding communities, as well as
St. Lawrence County's and New York State's emergency services; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 100 years, the courageous and devoted
firefighters of the Heuvelton 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, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department in public service and fire
protection is one to be envied; and


WHEREAS, For 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for 100 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 Heuvelton 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, 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 100th Anniversary of the Heuvelton Volunteer
Fire Department to be celebrated on April 17, 2021; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department.