Contact: Sunny Mindel/Matthew Higgins (212) 788-2958
Michael Regan (FDNY) (718) 999-2025
Marilyn Mode (NYPD) (212) 374-6700
At a City Hall ceremony today, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani honored some of New York City's many 'Holiday Heroes' -- City workers who helped brighten the holiday season through acts of heroism and charity. Among those honored were an entire firehouse in Queens that played Santa to a ten-year old girl who simply wanted her family to have a joyful Christmas; a police precinct in Brooklyn that distributed over a thousand toys to children at area hospitals and daycare centers; and several brave firefighters who responded to a burning building early Christmas morning and rescued a 90-year-old woman.
The Mayor was joined by Police Commissioner Howard Safir; Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen; members of Engine Company 265 and Ladder Company 121 in Queens; members of the 83rd Precinct in Brooklyn; and members of Engine Company 249 and Ladder Company 113 in Brooklyn.
"This is a magical time in our City, when many New Yorkers are so moved by the holiday spirit that they go to extraordinary lengths to spread joy to complete strangers," the Mayor said. "Among those working to brighten the holiday season were thousands of City workers, many of whom sacrificed their own holiday celebrations to serve the public. They raised money to help the poor, they doubled as Santa Claus to distribute gifts to sick children and, while most people were spending time with their loved ones, they stood ready to respond to any emergency. Today, we honor and thank just a handful of those City workers who exemplify the best of our municipal workforce and whose generosity and courage made this holiday a memorable one for countless New Yorkers."
The following City workers were honored today:
Engine Company 265 and Ladder Company 121 - Ten-year-old Jasmine Roldan wanted to send a letter to Santa Claus and she knew just how to reach him: at her local firehouse in Far Rockaway, Queens. After Jasmine had seen Santa Claus entering the firehouse one day for a Christmas party, she decided to pen a letter to members of Engine Company 265 and Ladder Company 121 asking if they would intervene on her behalf:
"Dear Mr. Fireman, I watch you on 'Rescue 911' and I know you could tell Santa
Claus that can he bring Xmas joy and happiness to me and my brothers and sister." Jasmine relayed to the firefighters the hardships that had struck her family in recent years -- about the death of her father two years ago, her sister's illness, her grandmother's bout with cancer, and her hardworking mother's struggle to support Jasmine and her five brothers and sisters.
The letter was posted on a bulletin board in the firehouse and quickly touched every one who read it. Before long, the firefighters had collected approximately $600 to fulfill Jasmine's simple wish for a joyful Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the firefighters spent much of the afternoon preparing a full-course meal for the Roldans. When they were finished cooking, they slipped into their Santa Claus outfits. They loaded the gifts for the six children, other household items and even a decorated Christmas tree onto two fire trucks and headed off to spend Christmas Eve with Jasmine and her family.
Representing Engine Company 265 and Ladder Company 121 were Lt. Gerard Roche, Firefighter Brian Gallagher, Firefighter Kevin Brown, Firefighter Mike Sandhaas, and Firefighter Mike Tripptree. Jasmine Roldan and her mother, Elaine also attended the ceremony.
83rd Police Precinct: For the past 9 years around Christmas time, the men and women of the 83rd Precinct have donned Santa suits, loaded up a police van to capacity with gifts and headed out onto the streets of Bushwick. In what has become an annual holiday tradition, the 83rd Precinct collects the gifts from members of the precinct and the community, striving to beat their previous year's total. Each year, their mission is to distribute as many toys as possible to sick and needy children in the area. This year, the 83rd Precinct distributed a record 1,000 gifts to children at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Woodhull Hospital and day care centers throughout the area.
Representing the 83rd Precinct were Captain William Kenny, Lieutenant Lizette Scarfuto, Sergeant Larry Smith, Police Officers Gary Bartunek, Timothy Dillon and Chermaine Porter.
Engine Company 249 and Ladder Company 113: Firefighters from Engine Co. 249 in Brooklyn were the first to arrive at 250 Clarkson Avenue at 8:10 AM on Christmas morning. As fire engulfed the second floor of the six story brick building, several residents began jumping from the lower floors. Without the aid of a hose line, Firefighter Tom Flemming raised a portable 24-foot ladder to the second floor window and broke through the window guard. He quickly searched through four smoke-filled rooms in sweltering heat before finding a 90-year-old woman unconscious on a couch. Nearing exhaustion, Firefighter Flemming summoned the strength to carry the victim through the pitch-black apartment back to the open window. Firefighters from Engine Company 249 and Ladder Company 113 helped him and the victim down to safety. Firefighter Flemming suffered minor injuries during the rescue and the victim remains in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.
Among those representing Engine Company 249 and Ladder Company 113 were Firefighter Tom Flemming and Firefighter Robert Pino.