Senate Resolution No. 857

BY: Senator MAY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 4, 2023, as Volunteer Firefighters' Appreciation
Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Citizens across our State and Nation are inspired by and
indebted to our noble firefighters who exhibit courage and bravery every
day in the course of their duties; 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;
the firefighters throughout this great Empire State heroically perform,
above and beyond the call of duty, those responsibilities which define
the task of fire protection; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 4, 2023, as Volunteer
Firefighters' Appreciation Day in the State of New York, in conjunction
with the observance of International Firefighters' Day; and

WHEREAS, There are nearly 100,000 volunteer firefighters in New York
State, according to the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control;
across the country volunteer firefighters make up two-thirds of the
estimated 1.2 million firefighters; and

WHEREAS, Ninety-five percent of volunteer firefighters are with fire
departments that protect a population of less than 25,000; more than 50%
of volunteers are located in small, rural departments that protect a
population of less than 2,500; and

WHEREAS, New York 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, On Volunteer Firefighters' Appreciation Day, this
Legislative Body urges all New Yorkers to remember all the past
firefighters who have heroically served our communities: those who have
died in service, as well as those who put their lives at risk to protect
our safety; and

WHEREAS, Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life
and property; sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless
hours served and volunteered over many years, in others it is many
selfless years working in the industry; in all cases, it risks the
ultimate sacrifice of a firefighter's life; and

WHEREAS, International Firefighters' Day is a time where the world's
community can recognize and honor the sacrifices firefighters make to
ensure their communities and environments are as safe as possible; it is

also a day in which current and past firefighters can be thanked for
their contributions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 4, 2023, as Volunteer
Firefighters' Appreciation Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.