"The men and women of the two departments, and family members that were drafted into service, put community above self as they worked day after day, week after week to assist their neighbors in need," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She said she felt the weekend bicentennial celebration - a time for the community to look back over its history over the past two centuries - was an appropriate time to remember the town's recent past as well.
Assemblywoman Jenne pointed out the firefighters from the Three Mile Bay Fire Company and the Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department contributed over 17,000 hours of volunteer assistance last May, June and July to help protect homes, garages and boathouses from the flooding caused by high water levels on Lake Ontario.
She said those firefighters, many of whom were dealing with flooding issues at their own homes, were spending up to 16 hours a day filling and placing sandbags to protect structures from the surging waters, pumping out basements and simply giving support to neighbors overwhelmed by the flooding and damage to their properties.
"It's important to recognize and honor the sacrifices the town of Lyme firefighters made last spring and summer to ensure their communities were as safe as possible," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"They were there from hour one of day one of the flooding and worked until the water levels had dropped and life returned to relative normalcy on the shores of Lake Ontario last summer," she added.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she had seen the efforts of the volunteer firefighters first hand and noted her appreciation for their dedication was only magnified by the few hours she spent working with members of the National Guard to fill sandbags in the town of Lyme.
She said she was also appreciative of the work members of local and state highway departments, crews from the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility and soldiers from the National Guard provided during last year's flood relief effort.
"I'm sure those first settlers who settled what officially became the town of Lyme 200 years ago this year would be very proud of the way community members came together last summer to help each other when times were tough," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"We know that same spirit was on display when those first settlers - many with ties to New England - battled a number of serious health issues as they first attempted to tame the woods surrounding the waterways in the town of Lyme," the assemblywoman added.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne presented proclamations to the Three Mile Bay Fire Company and the Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department for the role their volunteers played in last year's flood relief efforts in the town of Lyme. Pictured are (l-r) Three Mile Bay Fire Company Board Vice President Don Borquin, Board President Charlie Mount, Deputy Chief Justin Borquin and Chief William "Bill" Woofter; Assemblywoman Jenne; and Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Heather Jackson and First Assistant Chief Will Lipczynski.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne presented a proclamation to the Three Mile Bay Fire Company to honor their extraordinary volunteer service when flooding hit the town of Lyme in the spring and summer of 2018. Pictured are (l-r): Chief William "Bill" Woofter, Deputy Chief Justin Borquin, Assemblywoman Jenne, Board Vice President Don Borquin and Board President Charlie Mount.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne presented a proclamation to the Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department to honor their extraordinary volunteer service when flooding hit the town of Lyme in the spring and summer of 2018. Pictured are (l-r): Mike Barbor, John Stetson, Josh Kimball, Second Assistant Chief Heather Jackson, First Assistant Chief Will Lipczynski, Ted Smith and Dar Brown.
