Senate Resolution No. 1561

BY: Senator GRIFFO

HONORING Brian McQueen upon the occasion of his
retirement after 11 years of distinguished service
to the Believe 271 Foundation

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed
residents of this noble Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Brian McQueen upon the occasion of his retirement after 11 years of
distinguished service to the Believe 271 Foundation in December, 2025;
and

WHEREAS, For the past 11 years, Brian McQueen rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to the Believe 271 Foundation,
earning the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, Brian McQueen is a dedicated volunteer firefighter with
over four decades of volunteer fire service, and he was a past fire
chief of the Whitesboro Volunteer Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, Brian McQueen was diagnosed with B-cell,
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and this diagnosis was confirmed to be a direct
result of his risky work as a firefighter; and

WHEREAS, Inspired by his own journey and motivated by the desire to
help other firefighters facing a cancer diagnosis, Brian McQueen
co-founded the Believe 271 Foundation, a 501 c3 non-profit, in March,
2014; and

WHEREAS, The Believe 271 Foundation's mission is to advocate for and
provide financial assistance to those volunteer firefighters and ladies
auxiliaries stricken with cancer and life-threatening illness in Oneida
and Herkimer Counties; and

WHEREAS, The Believe 271 Foundation has provided over $400,000 of
assistance to those firefighters and ladies auxiliaries in need; this
financial assistance provides much needed and deserved relief while
these individuals and their families navigate complex medical journeys;
and

WHEREAS, Research shows that 62% of firefighters would be impacted
by occupation cancer, and under the leadership of Brian McQueen, the
Believe 271 Foundation created an educational program to share the
dangers and risks of occupational cancer; this unique program has
reached over 6,000 volunteer firefighters and their families; and

WHEREAS, Brian McQueen also used his diagnosis as inspiration to
lead the Firefighter's Association of the State of New York to advocate
for a cancer benefit for all volunteer firefighters in New York State;
his efforts were successful, and the cancer benefit became active in
2019; and


WHEREAS, Brian McQueen's advocacy work stretched beyond New York
State, and he represented the National Volunteer Fire Council at the
first National Cancer Alliance meeting and helped lay the foundation for
the first Lavender Ribbon Report, which provides vital information on
the prevention of firefighter cancer; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his advocacy and leadership with the Believe
271 Foundation, Brian McQueen continues to serve with the Whitesboro
Fire Department's Training Division as an instructor, and he was vital
to securing grant funding for the Whitestown MAZE training complex; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of his dedicated service and advocacy, Brian
McQueen was named recipient of the John M. Buckman III Leadership Award
by the International Association of Fire Chiefs at their Symposium in
the Sun in 2024; and

WHEREAS, In his capacity as co-founder, Brian McQueen served with
loyalty, honor, and distinction, and was governed by a keen sense of
duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems in his official
acts; thanks to his commitment, the lives of many firefighters and
ladies auxiliaries throughout New York State have been changed; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Brian McQueen upon the occasion of his retirement after 11 years
of distinguished service to the Believe 271 Foundation; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Brian McQueen.