Copyright 2006 The Hearst Corporation
By LEIGH HORNBECK
The Times Union (Albany, New York)
SARATOGA, N.Y. — Almost 10 years ago, Brian Myers Sr. died fighting a restaurant fire on Route 29. This year, his widow is part of a committee to pay tribute to him and emergency responders throughout Saratoga.
“It’s a great honor,” said Ronnie Myers. “I’ve always said if I won the lottery I would buy the (vacant) gas station (at Route 29 and Spring Street) and build a park.”
The Town Board formed the eight-member committee last month, in part because of the approaching anniversary of Brian Myers’ death. Myers, 47, of Schuylerville, was a volunteer member of the Schuyler Hose Company. He was battling flames alongside his son at Prospector’s Bar and Grill on New Year’s Day 1997 when he died.
On Saturday, Brian Myers Jr. was elected the new chief of Schuyler Hose, a role that has switched back and forth through the years between him and Richard Drew.
Part of the committee’s mission is to build a memorial to “Senior,” as Myers Sr. was called around the firehouse. It is also to recognize the men and women who work every day as volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
Protecting lives and property is a 175-year tradition in Saratoga, which includes the villages of Schuylerville and Victory Mills, carried on by the Quaker Springs Fire Department, Schuyler Hose, the Victory Mills David Nevins Fire Department and the General Schuyler Emergency Squad.
All four groups are represented on the committee along with Ronnie Myers and Jean Driscoll, who will speak for the Turning Point parade organization.
“Across the country and the state, fire departments are in crisis recruiting volunteers,” said committee member Sean Kelleher. “This is an opportunity for the town to recognize the people who give their time and effort to help people and inspire others to do the same.”
Kelleher, 40, joined the Quaker Springs department a year ago. He jokes it was because his wife said he could turn off the alarm at the station across the street in the middle of the night if he joined and she could go back to sleep.
Kelleher said life as a volunteer firefighter has been tough, both physically and emotionally because he finds himself making decisions about people’s property. It’s also fun.
“It’s fun learning and working with the other volunteers, feeling the camaraderie of knowing your neighbors,” Kelleher said.
Tying the memorial to the new Town Hall - either on site or as part of the new building - is one possibility, Supervisor Tom Wood said.
The committee’s first meeting is May 10 and Wood hopes that by the fall when the Town Board is putting together the 2007 budget, the members will put aside money to pay for a memorial and other initiatives the committee comes up with in the next six months.
“The firefighters and EMTs have been on our minds and it seems only fitting and appropriate that we do a more prominent and permanent memorial to them,” Wood said.