LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Arvin
Hart Fire Company, to be celebrated on July 24, 2014

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 60th Anniver-
sary of the Arvin Hart Fire Company and to honor its past and present
firefighting members for 60 years of fire protection to the citizens of
the Town of Stillwater 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 60 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Arvin Hart Fire Company 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 Arvin Hart Fire Company was established on July 24, 1954,
when a group of 38 men from the Town of Stillwater came together to sign
a role book and began a long and distinguished legacy of service to the
community; and
WHEREAS, The new fire company was named in honor of Delour Arvin Hart,
a young man from the area who had sacrificed his life defending his
country at the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest during World War II; as a
Memorial Day tradition, members of the fire company continue to lay a
wreath on his grave annually; and
WHEREAS, Starting from humble beginnings, the Arvin Hart Fire Company
used a barn to store a vintage 1934 American LaFrance Pumper; in addi-
tion, its first piece of apparatus was covered by a canvass door, fire
alarms were received by phone, and the wives of the first firefighters
formed a phone tree to spread the alarm; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Arvin Hart Fire Company has updated its
equipment and apparatus, while assuming greater responsibilities; among
its many new acquisitions were a hydraulic rescue tool and a 120hp air
boat capable of skimming across the ice with three rescuers at speeds
over 70 miles per hour; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Arvin Hart Fire Company responds to an average of
200 emergency calls per year with approximately 64 active members who
volunteer day and night to the call for assistance; the department's
apparatus includes 5 pumpers, 1 heavy duty rescue, a brush fire unit, an
air boat pulled by a multipurpose support unit and a general utility
vehicle; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Arvin Hart Fire Company in public service and fire protection is one
to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 60 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 Arvin Hart Fire Company 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 60th Anniversary of the Arvin Hart Fire Company,
to be celebrated on July 24, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Arvin Hart Fire Company.