Senate Resolution No. 2343

BY: Senator GAUGHRAN

HONORING Firefighter John McKenna upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition
after 50 years of dedicated service to the Greenlawn
Fire Department

WHEREAS, Citizens across our State and Nation are inspired by and
indebted to our noble volunteer firefighters who exhibit courage and
bravery every day in the course of their duties; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters exemplify the power of human
compassion and the strength of the American spirit through actions of
the most heroic magnitude; their sacrifices and their selfless
dedication merit tribute and recognition by all citizens of this great
country; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Firefighter
John McKenna upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition after 50 years of dedicated service to the Greenlawn Fire
Department to be celebrated with a dinner at the Department's
fairgrounds on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Greenlawn, New York; and

WHEREAS, John McKenna joined the Greenlawn Fire Department on June
1, 1972, and throughout his 50 years of service has held two
distinguished titles; he presently holds the position of Chaplain, a
role he has gracefully fulfilled since 1980, and was Company Lieutenant
in 1978; and

WHEREAS, The recipient of various awards and accolades, John
McKenna's achievements include being named Rescue Person of the Year
three times, the Top Fire, EMT, and Rescue Responder of the Year in
2015, Fireman of the Year in 1984 and Suffolk County Volunteer of the
Year in 2010, among numerous other outstanding honors; and

WHEREAS, Firefighters unwaveringly serve our great State with pride,
valor, and integrity; these respected volunteers are often the first to
respond to an emergency, whether the emergency is a fire, transportation
accident, natural disaster, act of terrorism, medical crisis, or spill
of hazardous materials; 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;
John McKenna is one such firefighter; throughout 50 years of devoted
service, this volunteer heroically performed, above and beyond the call
of duty, those responsibilities which define the task of fire
protection; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Firefighter John McKenna upon the occasion of his designation for
special recognition after 50 years of dedicated service to the Greenlawn
Fire Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Firefighter John McKenna.