Assembly Resolution No. 856

BY: M. of A. Garbarino

COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the Bohemia
Fire Department to be celebrated on March 10, 2018

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 125th
Anniversary of the Bohemia Fire Department and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for 125 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Bohemia and its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, To celebrate this milestone, the Board of Fire
Commissioners of the Bohemia Fire District will host the 125th
Anniversary Inspection and Installation Dinner of Chief Brian O'Neill on
Saturday, March 10, 2018, at Atlantis Banquets and Events, Riverhead,
New York; and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 125
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of Bohemia 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, The hamlet of Bohemia was settled in the 1850s; at the
time, the area was heavily wooded and area homes and farms needed
protection from disastrous brush (forest) fires that often swept through
the region; and

WHEREAS, On January 31, 1893, 13 men held an organizational meeting
to form the Bohemia Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; those present
included: Joseph Novotny, John Wild, Theodore Gross, Joseph Fisher,
Charles Sebek, Joseph Thuma, Louis Ruzicka, Reverend John H. Prescott,
Judge John Z. O'Brien, William Swanda, Charles Ruzicka, Thomas Bartick
and Louis Kautsky; and

WHEREAS, The Department's first fire truck was a Ramsey hand-drawn
hook and ladder truck purchased in 1893 for $375; and

WHEREAS, A dress code was established at the Company's second
meeting to consist of: black pants, red shirts, fireman's caps and
belts; and strict by-laws were formulated; and

WHEREAS, On May 19, 1893, Joseph Novotny was elected the first
Foreman of the Bohemia Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; and

WHEREAS, The first fire house was constructed in 1894, on the Corner
of Church Street and Walnut Avenue; in 1915, a chemical engine was
purchased; it had a tank filled with soda acid for small fires, but was
hand drawn; in addition, a motorized fire apparatus was purchased in
1920; the truck carried hooks, ladders and axes in addition to the soda
acid delivered via a hose reel; and

WHEREAS, During 1921, there was a name change from the Bohemia Hook
and Ladder Company No. 1 to the Bohemia Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, The Community Ambulance Company was created in 1950 to
increase response time for medical emergencies; Bohemia members voted to
join the ambulance district, with many members also joining and
assisting the new ambulance company; today, Bohemia Fire Department
responds to EMS calls as a certified first responder agency to stabilize
the patient and assist Community Ambulance members upon their arrival;
and

WHEREAS, The first meeting of the Bohemia Fire Department in its
present Main firehouse was held on February 21, 1961, and, under the
direction of Chief Allen "Bones" Behounek, a substation was constructed
in 1975, due to the fact that the population of fire district doubled
within the past decade; and

WHEREAS, During the first hours and days after the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks, the Bohemia Fire Department was called in for
mutual aide to staff a FDNY firehouse and members assisted in the
recovery efforts at Ground Zero; and

WHEREAS, The Bohemia Fire Department continues to be a key
organization in serving the residents of Bohemia; the department holds
annual parades for Memorial Day and its very popular Christmas Parade
with Santa; it also hosts blood drives, Adopt-A-Family programs,
scholarships for college bound seniors, fire prevention training and
First Aid & CPR classes to further help the community, as well as
remains very active in the Bohemia Civic Association and is a member of
the Friends of the Connetquot River State Park; 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 125th Anniversary of the Bohemia Fire Department
to be celebrated on March 10, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chief Brian O'Neill, Bohemia Fire Department.