Senate Resolution No. 2099

BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS

COMMEMORATING the 150th Anniversary of the Sleepy
Hollow Fire Department

WHEREAS, The volunteer 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, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 150
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Sleepy Hollow 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, The efforts of the courageous, resilient volunteer
firefighters of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Department never cease, risking
injury and life in the pursuit of public safety when responding to
disasters; and

WHEREAS, Organized on May 26, 1876, the Sleepy Hollow Fire
Department serves as the primary fire and rescue agency for the entire
Village of Sleepy Hollow, encompassing a service area of 5.1 square
miles and a service population of over 10,000 New Yorkers; the
department's five companies provide life-saving services including fire
suppression, vehicle extradition, surface water rescue, ice rescue, and
rapid intervention, along with any other emergency response that is
deemed appropriate; and

WHEREAS, The Sleepy Hollow Fire Department's stated mission is to
protect life and property from the adverse effects of fire, and exposure
to dangerous conditions created by nature or man, to respond to
emergencies in a professional and courteous manner and strive to reduce
the rate of emergencies through public education and code enforcement,
and to ensure that ethical values remain at the core of every decision
made by every member of the department; and

WHEREAS, The firefighters that make up the Sleepy Hollow Fire
Department have been, and continue to be, an important asset for the
Village of Sleepy Hollow and its residents; these brave men and women
are always ready and willing to come to the aid of their neighbor in the
performance of a duty that they have volunteered to do without thought
of fee or reward; without their invaluable service provided at no cost
to taxpayers, the Village would be less safe and face significantly
higher insurance and tax rates; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters, the Sleepy Hollow Fire Department reflects
the storied history and impressive developments of firefighting over the
past 150 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 volunteer 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
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Department,
celebrated on May 16, 2026; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of the Sleepy Hollow Fire Department.