Assembly Resolution No. 1078

BY: M. of A. Gray

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Libson
Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated on May 4,
2024

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Libson Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated at
its Annual Banquet on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Quality of Work Life
Building in Ogdensburg, New York, and to honor its past and present
firefighting members for 100 years of fire protection to the citizens of
Libson, New York, and its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 100
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Libson 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, Established on December 5, 1923, the Lisbon Volunteer Fire
Department is an all-volunteer fire department in the Town of Lisbon,
St. Lawrence County, State of New York, and serves a rural community of
approximately 3,200 residences; its response area is 100 square miles
and borders 12.5 miles of the St. Lawrence River shared with the
Providence of Ontario, Canada; and

WHEREAS, The department's earliest roster shows a starting
membership of 31 volunteers, and the first firefighting apparatus was a
used motorized soda-acid chemical truck from the early 1900s; and

WHEREAS, On March 29, 1928, the Libson Volunteer Fire Department
held its First Annual Banquet honoring its members at the Town Public
Library; during this time, fire trucks were housed in a two-stall garage
on Main Street, County Route 10 at the current site of the Town Clerk's
Office; and

WHEREAS, The department was incorporated as the Lisbon Volunteer
Fire Corporation on March 12, 1952, and six years later, the first new
fire engine, a 1958 Chevrolet pumper, was purchased; in the 1960s, a
used ambulance was acquired and the departments Emergency Medical
Services were formed; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, the current property of 7002 County Route 10 was
acquired and a metal building was erected to house up to four fire
trucks; in 2002, an expansion and upgrade were completed and the
facility now houses 10 emergency response vehicles; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Libson 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 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 Libson 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 Libson Volunteer Fire Department
reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 100
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 100th Anniversary of the Libson Volunteer Fire
Department to be celebrated on May 4, 2024; and be it further

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