Bill Text: NY J01806 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Piermont Firefighter Thomas Pomplin posthumously upon the occasion of being the first African-American Line of Duty Death in Rockland County

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 43-20)

Status: (Passed) 2022-02-15 - ADOPTED [J01806 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J01806-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1806

BY: Senator REICHLIN-MELNICK

        HONORING   Piermont   Firefighter  Thomas  Pomplin
        posthumously upon the occasion of  being  the  first
        African-American  Line  of  Duty  Death  in Rockland
        County

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  convey  its
grateful appreciation and heartfelt regret in recognition of the loss of
a  courageous  and  hardworking firefighter who dedicated his purposeful
life and career in faithful service to the residents of New York  State;
and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  profound  sadness  and deep regret that this
Legislative Body records the tragic and untimely passing of  Firefighter
Thomas  Pomplin,  who  made the ultimate sacrifice as a member of Empire
Hose Company No. 1 in 1854; and

  WHEREAS, Born in 1826 to Mary Pomplin, Thomas Pomplin lived on South
Piermont Avenue in the Village of Piermont, New York; and

  WHEREAS, In 1850, a  sulfur  match  factory  located  on  the  lower
shoreline  of  Nyack, New York, was converted into Storm's Cedar Tub and
Pail Factory by the Storms brothers, Arthur and Henry; on Saturday, July
29, 1854, the Storms brothers decided to close the factory a bit  early;
at  approximately  7pm  smoke and flames were discovered coming from the
south side of the main building; and

  WHEREAS,  The  call  for  fire  was  heard  and  soon  members  from
Orangetown   and   Mazzepa   Fire  Companies  responded;  as  the  Nyack
firefighters set up their hand drawn engines to fight the massive blaze,
it was determined that much of the  entire  building  was  enveloped  in
flames;  with  soaring summer heat and the dry condition of the building
and its contents, the fire advanced with incredible speed; and

  WHEREAS, During this time,  as  Nyack  firefighters  directed  their
efforts  toward  saving  the  brick  building  opposite  the main Storms
structure, a man upon a horse was dispatched to Piermont for mutual aid;
while the  blaze  was  at  its  height,  the  Empire  Hose  Company  and
Protection  Engine  Company  arrived  from  Piermont  to  assist  in the
firefighting efforts; and

  WHEREAS, In the 1800s, Piermont firefighters pulled and pushed their
engines with manpower, covering the three-mile distance to the scene  of
the fire in just 50 minutes; their equipment and manpower helped prevent
the further spread of fire to other buildings; and

  WHEREAS,  On  that  warm  July  summer  evening,  28-year-old Thomas
Pomplin, a member of the Empire Hose Company No. 1 of the Piermont  Fire
Department,  responded  to  the  Storm's Cedar and Pail Factory to fight
this major building fire side by side with his brother firemen; and

  WHEREAS, On August 5, 1854, a few days after the devastating  blaze,
Firefighter  Thomas  Pomplin  succumb  to the effects of overheating and

exhaustion after selflessly and heroically putting his life on the  line
for the residents of his beloved community; and

  WHEREAS,  Firefighter  Thomas  Pomplin  gave  his life in service to
others, but more importantly, he lived his life in  service  to  others;
his  infinite selflessness and strength will forever stand as a paradigm
and inspiration for others; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion, Firefighter Thomas Pomplin leaves behind a legacy which will
long  endure  the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all who were privileged to have known and loved such an amazing  man;
he  truly  merits  the  grateful  tribute of this Legislative Body; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor Piermont Firefighter Thomas Pomplin posthumously upon the occasion
of  being  the  first  African-American  Line  of Duty Death in Rockland
County; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Firefighter Thomas Pomplin.