Senator John J. Flanagan (2nd Senate District) today presented Smithtown resident and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) member James Congema with the New York State Senate Liberty Medal for his heroic actions during a fire last year. Lt. Congema, who is a ten-year veteran of the FDNY, worked with his colleagues to save five lives during a fire in the Bronx last year.
During the rescue, Lt. Congema joined with his two partners from Ladder Company 41, Robert Watts and Ron Fuentes, to enter a fire in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. Upon entering the burning building, the three came upon two unconscious occupants by the doorway. As his two colleagues pulled the two individuals to safety, Lt. Congema crawled through the fire on his hands and knees to search for other victims. Crawling through the smoke and flames, he came upon two more victims and his partners took them to safety as Lt. Congema continued to search the residence.In a second bedroom, he found a young girl and personally carried her to safety. For his actions in saving the five members of the Ramos family, Senator Flanagan invited the entire Congema family to his office for the presentation of the New York State Senate Liberty Medal. Joining Lt. Congema at the event were his wife Deanne, his three children, his mother Kathy and his father Frank.
As his two colleagues pulled the two individuals to safety, Lt. Congema crawled through the fire on his hands and knees to search for other victims. Crawling through the smoke and flames, he came upon two more victims and his partners took them to safety as Lt. Congema continued to search the residence.
In a second bedroom, he found a young girl and personally carried her to safety.
For his actions in saving the five members of the Ramos family, Senator Flanagan invited the entire Congema family to his office for the presentation of the New York State Senate Liberty Medal. Joining Lt. Congema at the event were his wife Deanne, his three children, his mother Kathy and his father Frank.
The medal was created in 2000 and is one of the highest civilian honors that a New York resident can receive. It is awarded by the New York State Senate to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.
"Lt. Congema is a great example of the bravery that our first responders display everyday and I am proud to honor him with this medal. A complete family is alive and together today due to his actions and he is a true hero," stated Senator Flanagan. "While he is quick to deflect the attention away from himself, he deserves our gratitude for putting his life on the line to save others everyday."
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