HYDE PARK – Members of the Roosevelt Fire District, elected officials, and community members gathered at Roosevelt Fire District Station 3 on Wednesday night to recognize the efforts of two adults and three children who saved a girl from dying on March 6.
On that day, a 13-year-old girl fell through the ice on the pond at Greenfields Park in Hyde Park. She immediately became trapped and her friends jumped in to save her. The full story can be found here.
State Senator Sue Serino, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Acting Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati and others gathered to provide commendations to the two 9-year-old boys and their 13-year-old friend for saving the teenage girl.
Don Burns and his wife Wendy, a Roosevelt firefighter, are credited with saving the life of the girl.
Firefighter Wendy Burns, a member of the Roosevelt fire department, attempted to stay hidden in the back of the room during the presentation, avoiding the limelight. Fighting back tears after the ceremony, she spoke with Mid-Hudson News.
“I’m proud. I’m definitely proud. I’ve never had a save like this,” the humble firefighter said, adding “I’ve saved other people before but never to this magnitude – I am very proud of the department I belong to.”
Every elected official or representative who spoke praised the efforts of the three boys, Don, and Wendy, for their actions. They were repeatedly heralded as heroes. Fire Chief Lew Darrow noted that firefighters never seek recognition or want to be called heroes but said, “These five people are heroes.”
