Honor Fire Officer Oates

Senate Resolution No. 1085 BY: Senator JACOBS HONORING Fire Police Officer Richard Oates upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the City of Tonawanda Fire Department WHEREAS, Citizens across our State and Nation are inspired by and indebted to our noble volunteer firefighters who exhibit courage and bravery every day in the course of their duties; and WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters exemplify the power of human compassion and the strength of the American spirit through actions of the most heroic magnitude; their sacrifices and their selfless dedication merit tribute and recognition by all citizens of this great country; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Fire Police Officer Richard Oates upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the City of Tonawanda Fire Department, celebrated at its Annual Appreciation and Awards Banquet on

March 11, 2017, at the Niawanda Park Pavilion, Tonawanda, New York; and WHEREAS, Fire Police Officer Richard Oates is being recognized with this auspicious award for his exceptional dedication and commitment to the people of the City of Tonawanda above and beyond what is expected in the normal call of duty; and WHEREAS, In addition to his duties as a fire police officer, Richard Oates also serves as a member of the Department's Chaplain Corps, personally assisting countless members of the community; he has also been instrumental in organizing the Red-for-Jed blood drive which benefits the scholarship program in memory of Jed Woomer; and WHEREAS, 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, Many firefighters have lost their lives to save the lives of others; each and every day, they face danger and peril without fear and perform their job with the utmost concern and professionalism; 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; Richard Oates is such a firefighter; throughout many years of devoted service, this volunteer heroically performed, above and beyond the call of duty, those responsibilities which define the task of fire protection; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Fire Police Officer Richard Oates upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the City of Tonawanda Fire Department; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Fire Police Officer Richard Oates.