Honor Gary Lazaroff’s Heroism

Senate Resolution No. 2763 BY: Senator SKOUFIS COMMENDING Town of Marlborough Highway Department employee Gary Lazaroff upon the occasion of his designation as recipient 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 Gary Lazaroff upon the occasion of his designation as recipient 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 Employee Gary Lazaroff along with his co-workers sprang into action; and WHEREAS, The highway department employees were able to use the front-end loader to position the police chief where he could extricate the trapped driver; immediately following, Gary Lazaroff and the alert team of highway department workers began dumping sand to create a berm 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, Gary Lazaroff in his spontaneous and heroic act, has so aptly demonstrated the character and compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of his 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 Gary Lazaroff upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Town of Marlborough Highway Department employee Gary Lazaroff.