Senate Resolution No. 2151

BY: Senator BONACIC

HONORING the Bloomington Fire Company Inc. upon
the occasion of its designation as recipient of the
Unit Citation Award by the Ulster County Volunteer
Firemen's Association on July 29, 2017

WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their
exemplary contributions and service on behalf of others; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Bloomington Fire Company Inc. upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the Unit Citation Award by the Ulster County Volunteer
Firemen's Association to be celebrated at its annual Convention on
Saturday, July 29, 2017, at the Milton Train Station in Milton, New
York; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to join with the
borough of Bloomington, in recognizing the heroic and courageous acts by
members of its Fire Department in extricating a driver from his tractor
trailer which collided with a bridge overpass abutment on the New York
State Thruway on July 29, 2016; and

WHEREAS, The highly skilled and courageous Firefighters meriting
this prestigious honor include: Chief Fred Harries, Assistant Chief
Kevin Hines, Captain Ernest Navarra, Captain John Lane, Lieutenant
Douglas Tierney, Lieutenant Brian Phillips, Lieutenant Alan Brown,
Lieutenant Rebecca Stokes, Lieutenant Joseph Huettinger, and
Firefighters Raymond Stegner, Brian Brainard, Kevin Keller, Lorren
Potter, Joseph Hafner, Sr., Katelyn Stokes, Albert Schmidt, Christopher
Walker, Katie Phillips, John Quick, and Robert Dolan, as well as Roger
Peck; and

WHEREAS, Disregarding their own personal safety and acting in a
manner which personifies the finest traditions of those who place their
lives in order to serve others, these firefighters bravely and without
hesitation, risked their own lives to rescue a man from his tractor
trailer; their combined actions, coupled with their courage and
selflessness, valiantly saved the precious life of this driver; and

WHEREAS, On July 29, 2016, the Bloomington Fire Department was
dispatched to a multi-car vehicle accident at mile post 85.3 on the New
York State Thruway involving a tractor trailer; firefighters arrived to
find a tractor trailer crashed into the bridge overpass abutment, with
the driver still trapped in the cab of his truck; and

WHEREAS, While deploying protective lines due to leaking diesel fuel
and motor oil, the firefighters on the scene started lifesaving measures
as they began efforts to extricate the trapped and injured driver; after
45 minutes of hard work under extreme conditions, the driver was freed
from the cab, and Mobile Life Support Service and LifeNet Paramedics
transported him to Westchester Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, The unwavering firefighters of the Bloomington Fire
Department worked to the point of exhaustion on a hot and humid evening
in July; they used ladders to reach the trapped victim, and every single
piece of extrication equipment was used during their extraordinary
effort; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Thruway was closed in both directions,
as well as the roadway above the incident due to possible structural
damage to the Route 32 overpass; and

WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help
others and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with
family and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need,
heroically performing, above and beyond the call of duty; and

WHEREAS, Through their unwavering commitment to serve and protect
the community and citizens of Bloomington, New York, and their
unqualified response to carrying out their duties irrespective of the
peril and the personal dangers, these Firefighters have uniquely
distinguished themselves and contributed significantly to that spirit of
united purpose and shared concern which is the cornerstone of public
service and community life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Bloomington Fire Company Inc. upon the occasion of its
designation as recipient of the Unit Citation Award by the Ulster County
Volunteer Firemen's Association on July 29, 2017; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the aforementioned Firefighters and to the Bloomington
Fire Company Inc.