Bill Text: NY J01336 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire Department to be celebrated on Saturday, September 23, 2023
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-06 - ADOPTED [J01336 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-J01336-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 1336 BY: Senator MURRAY COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire Department to be celebrated on Saturday, September 23, 2023 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire Department and to honor its past and present members for 100 years of fire protection and emergency response to the Hamlet of Brookhaven, parts of Yaphank, Bellport, North Bellport, and Shirley, New York; and WHEREAS, Fire companies are an integral part of community protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 100 years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Brookhaven Fire Department have valiantly responded to all types of emergencies and have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters serve without pay, devote hundreds of hours of time away from family, and in many cases spend their own money on firefighting gear and bear the responsibility for recruitment and retention to maintain organizational stability; and WHEREAS, The Brookhaven Fire Department was formed as the Brookhaven Hose Company Number One following a meeting of citizens on May 10, 1923; and WHEREAS, On May 10, 1923, John Morton was selected as temporary chairman for the nascent fire company along with a temporary secretary, C.F. MacNeill; followed by the election of the first Fire Chief, George Waldron, and the election of William Horn as Foreman; C.F. MacNeill as Assistant Foreman; and J.H. Morton as Secretary Treasurer; and WHEREAS, The newly formed fire department went right to work pursuing the process of incorporating the fire department in June of 1923, and procuring its first firefighting equipment with purchases made possible through donations from supportive citizens; and WHEREAS, In January of 1925, the Brookhaven Fire Department purchased its first fire truck; and WHEREAS, In May 1926, the first building proposition was approved by voters to fund the building of the first fire house, that would be built on the corner of Seeley Street and Bridge Place, now Railroad Avenue, following the donation of the land by a local company; and WHEREAS, In October of 1926, ground was broken for the new fire house and by 1938, the fire police corp had become active; and WHEREAS, In 1940 the beginning of the Brookhaven Ambulance Company was formed as a result of the efforts of and support from the Brookhaven Fire Department; and WHEREAS, Tragically, on December 15, 1945, the Brookhaven Fire Department fire house suffered its own devastation when the fire house burned down, with all equipment and buildings being completely destroyed; and WHEREAS, In 1946 the Brookhaven Fire Department was able to move ahead with planning a new fire house with the generous donation of property; ground was broken and construction on this property for the new fire house began in September of 1946; and WHEREAS, On May 15, 1947, the first meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners was held in the new fire house; and WHEREAS, In 1995, the Brookhaven Fire Department purchased a new office at 8 Seeley Street, then in 1998, permits were secured to begin the development of the Brookhaven Fire Department Fireman's Park; and WHEREAS, In 1999, a 100 foot Aerial Tower Ladder was put into service and in 2014, many major updates were made to the fire district headquarters including handicap accessibility with installation of a new elevator and other interior alterations; and WHEREAS, Through the years, the brave firefighters of the Brookhaven Fire Department responded to and lent aid without hesitation to neighbors and strangers alike during man-made and natural disasters and in their aftermaths, including the disaster of the destructive hurricane of 1938 that hit Long Island; the Bellport High School Fire of 1963; numerous devastating brush fires that plagued the area throughout the years; the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001; Hurricane Irene in 2011; Superstorm Sandy in 2012; and more recently, during the Coronavirus Pandemic; and WHEREAS, Under the current leadership of Chief of Department Anthony Verni, First Assistant Chief Giuseppe Loiacono, Second Assistant Chief Hudson Darrow, Captain John Hodge, Jr., Headquarters Lieutenant Brian LaMonica, Jr., Station One Lieutenant Chris Martin, and Fire Police Captain Ron Dutcher, the Brookhaven Fire Department has held up the high standards of ensuring public safety which has been a staple of this company since its inception; and WHEREAS, Always at the ready, the Brookhaven Fire Department responds when called upon in a professional and timely manner; and WHEREAS, The record of the Brookhaven Fire Department in public service and fire protection is one to be applauded; for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for 100 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble firefighters left their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Brookhaven Fire Department 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, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by individual firefighters and emergency personnel, the Brookhaven Fire Department reflects on their rich history and development of firefighting over the past 100 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, especially in a volunteer capacity; 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 fire companies 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 100th Anniversary of the Brookhaven Fire Department to be celebrated on Saturday, September 23, 2023; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to ranking members of the Brookhaven Fire Department.