LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring John Strucker upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
caring concern and heroic acts of those exemplary citizens, who take
prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, and in doing so,
help others to avert life-threatening danger; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor John Strucker
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient 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, During the summer of 2015, John Strucker attended the Pine
Bush High School Leadership and Law Academy Summer Enrichment Program, a
15-day course, which focused on leadership and discipline, and taught
lessons in government, economics and criminal justice; and
WHEREAS, One of the vital skills that John Strucker learned was how to
perform CPR; on a hot Sunday afternoon in July, he put his new skills to
the ultimate test by saving his father's life; and
WHEREAS, On that particular day, John Strucker and his father, David,
went out to play tennis; after they got home, David Strucker went to lie
down; and
WHEREAS, Two hours later, David's wife, Linda Strucker, found him
unresponsive; after hearing his mother's cries, John Strucker ran to his
parents' bedroom and while Linda called 911, he immediately started
chest compressions; and
WHEREAS, The 911 dispatcher instructed John Strucker to get his father
on the floor, and after enlisting a neighbor's help, they were able to
move him; and
WHEREAS, Completely composed, John Strucker performed CPR on his
father; during the excruciatingly long 30 minute wait for the ambulance
to arrive, John taught his neighbor how to perform chest compressions;
and
WHEREAS, Soon thereafter, other neighbors, relatives and a police
officer crowded into the house, with six people eventually helping John
Strucker give his father CPR; and
WHEREAS, After arriving at Orange Regional Hospital, David Strucker
would remain in the facility for 31 days, the first seven in a medical-
ly-induced coma; and
WHEREAS, Now, after being home for a few months, David Strucker is
grateful that his son remained focused and used his new found skills to
save his life; and
WHEREAS, John Strucker through his spontaneous and heroic actions,
demonstrated his character and his compassion for the welfare of others,
personifying, by virtue of his actions, the collective concern of ordi-
nary citizens across the community of the State of New York who volun-
tarily respond when others are in need of help; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor John Strucker upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of

a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the
New York State Senate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Strucker.