Legislative Update: Fire Service Reacts to Governor’s Veto of Fallen Firefighter Memorial Legislation

Last June, the Fallen Firefighter Legislation (S.4655/A.5933) passed both houses of the Legislature.  The bill required the names of volunteer firefighters that have died in the line of duty to be inscribed on the NYS Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Albany.  This morning, the Governor vetoed this legislation.  FASNY and our fellow fire service organizations have the released the following statement in reaction to the Governor’s veto of this bill.  All three organizations remain committed to finding a fair and equitable solution to this important issue.

STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS, THE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE ASSOCIATION OF FIRE DISTRICTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

RE: VETO OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL BILL

“We are disappointed in today’s veto of legislation that we felt would have clarified and standardized criteria for placing the names of fallen firefighters on the Memorial Wall on the Plaza in Albany.  Paul Brady was a Malverne volunteer firefighter tragically killed while preparing his department’s rescue truck for a training exercise.  His death is an example of sacrifice in the service of his community and we will continue to work with leaders in the fire service and the state government to explore solutions that will appropriately acknowledge the loss of firefighters like Paul.”