Honor Local Heroes for Bravery

Senate Resolution No. 2237 BY: Senator SKOUFIS COMMENDING Highway Superintendent John Alonge, Harry Freeborn, Don Fredrick, Gary Lazaroff, and Police Chief Gerald Cocozzan upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend the caring concern and heroic acts of individuals who take prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, nobly risking their own lives in an effort to preserve the life of another; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Highway Superintendent John Alonge, Harry Freeborn, Don Fredrick, Gary Lazaroff, and Police Chief Gerald Cocozza upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, On July 10, 2019, in the Town of Marlborough, New York, a fuel truck overturned, blocking two of the four lanes of Route 9W and trapping the driver inside; luckily the accident took place in front of the Town of Marlborough Highway Department and without hesitation, Highway Superintendent John Alonge, as well as employees Harry Freeborn, Gary Lazaroff, and Don Fredericks sprang into action; and WHEREAS, As Police Chief Gerald Cocozza came on the scene; the highway department was able to use the front end loader to position Chief Cocozza where he could extricate the trapped driver; immediately following, the alert team of highway department workers set to work dumping sand to create a dike to contain the leaking fuel and protect the adjacent waterway; and WHEREAS, At any moment, the very real danger of an explosive event threatened the first responders, and thanks to their selfless response and quick-thinking, a serious catastrophe was averted; and WHEREAS, Highway Superintendent John Alonge, Harry Freeborn, Don Fredrick, Gary Lazaroff, and Police Chief Gerald Cocozza, in their spontaneous and heroic act, have so aptly demonstrated the character and compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of their action, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily respond without thought of danger or reward when others are in need of help; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Highway Superintendent John Alonge, Harry Freeborn, Don Fredrick, Gary Lazaroff, and Police Chief Gerald Cocozza upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Highway Superintendent John Alonge, Harry Freeborn, Don Fredrick, Gary Lazaroff, and Police Chief Gerald Cocozza.