Assembly Resolution No. 633

BY: M. of A. Woerner

COMMEMORATING the 120th Anniversary of the Glens
Falls Fire Department

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 120th
Anniversary of the Glens Fall Fire Department and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for more than a century of fire protection
to the citizens of Glens Falls, New York, and its surrounding
communities; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 120
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Glens Falls Fire
Department valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have
won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and

WHEREAS, On March 4, 1903, the Board of Trustees for the Village of
Glens Falls met to discuss the annual report of the Volunteer Fire
Department presented by Chief John Mack; the 49 fires occurring during
1902 had caused the second largest casualty loss in the village behind
the fire of 1864; and

WHEREAS, Due to higher insurance rates and constant pressure from
the citizens of the village, the board transitioned the Volunteer Fire
Department into a Career Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, The transition officially took place on June 8, 1903, with
the first Career Firefighters manning both the Ridge Street and South
Street Fire Stations; in its first year of operation the department
responded to 42 alarms for help; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the 224 Firefighters of the Glens
Falls Fire Department have responded to 3,345 alarms for help; and

WHEREAS, Today, under the able leadership of Chief James Schrammel,
the Glens Falls Fire Department remains committed to providing the
highest level of public safety to the residents and visitors of the City
of Glens Falls; its members are dedicated to the protection of life,
property and the environment through fire suppression, rescue, emergency
medical service, hazardous materials response and disaster management;
to prevent fires and protect life through fire prevention and education;
and to maintain a work environment that values cultural diversity and is
free of harassment and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters, the Glens Falls Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 120 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 as firefighters; 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 volunteer fire departments 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 120th Anniversary of the Glens Falls Fire
Department; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chief James Schrammel, Glens Falls Fire Department.