J 1293: Commending Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon individuals by the New York State Senate

 Senate Resolution No. 1293 BY: Senator MAYER COMMENDING Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon individuals by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend the heroic acts of individuals who take prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations to preserve the lives of others; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Armando Gramajo and his daughter Shayla saved the life of a woman who was attacked with a knife by her husband; and WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo was born in Guatemala and after some formal education, he enlisted in the Guatemalan Army; and WHEREAS, In 1986, Armando Gramajo came to the United States, where he met his wife who he has two children with: a son who is now 30 years old, and his daughter, Shayla, who is now 25 years old; he presently works as a bus driver and as a private handyman; and WHEREAS, Shayla Gramajo is a graduate of Marist University, where she majored in biology and minored in chemistry; she completed physician's assistant's school in 2024 and is currently a practicing physician's assistant in the area of plastic surgery; and WHEREAS, While working on his truck at his home in White Plains, New York, Armando Gramajo saw a woman run by screaming; he went to see what was happening and saw a man standing over the woman, holding a knife and attacking her; and WHEREAS, Drawing upon his experience as a soldier in the Guatemalan Army, Armando Gramajo yelled a command for the man to stop his attack and, stunningly, he complied; and WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo called for his daughter, Shayla Gramajo, to aid the poor victim; and WHEREAS, Jumping into action, Shayla Gramajo responded to her father's pleas by grabbing some sheets and rags from the closet and rushing to the woman's aid; she drew on her medical knowledge and used the rags to put pressure on the wounds while reassuring the still-conscious woman until emergency services arrived; and WHEREAS, Due to Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo's noble and courageous actions, a precious life was saved, and a dire situation had positive results; these brave heroes' intervention is a reminder of the profound impact which kindness and preparedness can have in our communities; and WHEREAS, Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo, in their spontaneous and heroic act, have so aptly demonstrated their character and compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of their actions, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily respond without thought of danger or reward when others need help; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon individuals by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Armando Gramajo and Shayla Gramajo.