LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Wall-
ington Fire Department to be celebrated on August 8, 2015

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th Anni-
versary of the Wallington Fire Department, to be celebrated with a
parade on Saturday, August 8, 2015, honoring its past and present fire-
fighting members for 100 years of fire protection to the 2,000 citizens
of Wallington, 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 100 years, the
courageous and devoted volunteer firefighters of the Wallington Fire
Department have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and
have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Wallington Fire Department in public service and fire protection is
one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 100
years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left their
homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The first Chief, Orange Kimpland, and the charter members
Harry H. Duncan, Harry L. Olmsted, George D. Brown, W.T. White, H.
McCarthy, R.G. Elmhurst, John Blondale, Walter Goodes, S.W. Babcock,
C.C. Whiting, R.C. McCarthy, S.G. Duncan, C.E. Garluck, William VanDe-
Lester, F.P. Hausman, A. Vander Luber, David Harris, O.F. Brown, H.S.
Duncan, Harry S. Brown, George D. Mason, Raymond Brown, Adrian Hobard,
Isaac Kotvis, Perry J. Coon, P.G. Vanderpler, William Vanderzilli, Jesse
Obine, Albert Sherman, Luther Cuvelier, J.H. Scidmore, Edson Toor, Guer-
don Messinger, Paul Duncan, Harry Blondale, Joseph Doyle, John Doyle,
and E.A. Naines established the Wallington Fire Department in 1915; the
department was officially incorporated in 1962; and
WHEREAS, The initial fire station had only one bay; in 1959, land was
purchased to add two more truck bays and in 1976, the original building
was torn down and a larger firehouse was built; and
WHEREAS, During the 1920s, the Wallington Fire Department used a Model
T Ford hand pumper and chemical fire engine to put out fires; in 1936,
the company purchased their first new 500 gpm pumper; today, the antique
vehicle is proudly displayed in local parades; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the Wallington Fire Department
purchased a number of new pumpers, various rescue vehicles, and a jaws
of life; many improvements and additions have also been made to the
firehouse; and
WHEREAS, In addition to serving their own seven-mile radius district,
the Wallington Fire Department has a mutual aid agreement with several
towns, including Sodus, Huron, Lyons, Arcadia, Galen, and Williamson;
the department also maintains a landing pad for Mercy Flight Central
helicopters; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Wallington Fire Department includes 19 officers:
Chief Shawn Johnson, 1st Assistant Chief, Mike Crandell, 2nd Assistant
Chief, Chris Lagasse, 3rd Assistant Chief, Fred Burkhard, Fire Captain,
Tim Morgan, Truck Captain, Bruce Wallace, Fire Police Captain, Sam
Snyder, Engine 40 Lieutenant, Tim Sasser, Engine 39 Lieutenant, Kevin
Gropp, Co-Rescue 32 Lieutenants, Brad Avery and Bill Duemmel, Tanker 22
Lieutenant, Zack Roder, AT 5/ORR-32 Lieutenant, Chris Thurston, Fire
Police Lieutenants, Ray Duemmel and Andy Secore II, Training Officer,
Mike Crandell, Safety Officer and Corporate President, Steve Zonneville,
and PI Officer, Gary Thomas, and the Antique Parade Truck operator, Dick
Young; and

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Wallington 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, the Wallington Fire Department reflects the
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 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 100th Anniversary of the Wallington Fire Depart-
ment; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chief Shawn Johnson, Wallington Fire Department.