Senate Resolution No. 1293

BY: Senator MAYER

COMMENDING Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon
the occasion of their designation as recipients of a
Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon
individuals by the New York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the heroic acts of individuals who take prompt and appropriate
action in emergency situations to preserve the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients 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, On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Armando Gramajo and his daughter
Shayla saved the life of a woman who was attacked with a knife by her
husband; and

WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo was born in Guatemala and after some formal
education, he enlisted in the Guatemalan Army; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Armando Gramajo came to the United States, where
he met his wife who he has two children with: a son who is now 30 years
old, and his daughter, Shayla, who is now 25 years old; he presently
works as a bus driver and as a private handyman; and

WHEREAS, Shayla Gramajo is a graduate of Marist University, where
she majored in biology and minored in chemistry; she completed
physician's assistant's school in 2024 and is currently a practicing
physician's assistant in the area of plastic surgery; and

WHEREAS, While working on his truck at his home in White Plains, New
York, Armando Gramajo saw a woman run by screaming; he went to see what
was happening and saw a man standing over the woman, holding a knife and
attacking her; and

WHEREAS, Drawing upon his experience as a soldier in the Guatemalan
Army, Armando Gramajo yelled a command for the man to stop his attack
and, stunningly, he complied; and

WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo called for his daughter, Shayla Gramajo, to
aid the poor victim; and

WHEREAS, Jumping into action, Shayla Gramajo responded to her
father's pleas by grabbing some sheets and rags from the closet and
rushing to the woman's aid; she drew on her medical knowledge and used

the rags to put pressure on the wounds while reassuring the
still-conscious woman until emergency services arrived; and

WHEREAS, Due to Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo's noble and
courageous actions, a precious life was saved, and a dire situation had
positive results; these brave heroes' intervention is a reminder of the
profound impact which kindness and preparedness can have in our
communities; and

WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo, in their spontaneous
and heroic act, have so aptly demonstrated their character and
compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of their
actions, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the
community of New York State who voluntarily respond without thought of
danger or reward when others need help; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon individuals by the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo.