Garden City civil servants receive commendations during recent village trustees meeting
On Thursday, August 16, postman Mario Serrano and firefighter Mike Morgan received village proclamations during a Village of Garden City trustees meeting in recognition of the decisiveness displayed in critical situations that occurred on consecutive Mondays at the end of July.
For Serrano, it happened on his mail route. While making his usual delivery to the home of an 87-year-old resident on St. Paul’s Crescent on Monday, July 30, he noticed correspondence dropped off two days prior on Saturday had been left undisturbed. Upon attempting to see if anyone was home, the postman heard the sound of running water and what appeared to be singing coming from a nearby bathroom window. Still harboring concerns about the elderly woman, Serrano returned to the home after completing his shift at which point, he heard a cry for help. After pushing the bathroom window open and calling out, he discovered the resident had gotten wedged between the bathtub and toilet after suffering a fall on Saturday. Serrano called the Garden City Fire Department and police department. The water was then turned off and the GCFD cut away a floor bolt in order to wiggle the toilet and free the victim. Police reported that she wound up being transported to Winthrop-University Hospital. Prior to handing Serrano his commendation, Mayor Donald T. Brudie expressed his admiration for the postman’s actions.
“Mario, may your astuteness, awareness and concern for the safety and well-being of your postal constituents be a virtue emulated by all of your co-workers at the United States Post Office.”
A week ago to the day on July 23, a Hispanic man crossing Sunrise Highway at the Lynbrook Ocean Avenue exit was fortuitous enough to have Garden City firefighter Mike Morgan in the area. The Oceanside resident was traversing the crosswalk in his motorized wheelchair going with the light when a Mack truck making a right turn struck him, causing multiple fractures, head trauma and the eventual amputation of his leg. Being the first qualified responder on the scene, Morgan took charge assessing the man’s injuries, calling for further professional assistance, conveying his diagnosis along with instructing the arriving Lynbrook Fire Department EMS about the next steps that needed to be taken. Furthermore, Morgan requested a helicopter airlift to the hospital that was provided by the Nassau County Police Department. Once the man was on his way, Morgan was content to anonymously go on his way with no regard for recognition. Lynbrook fire officials then stopped him to ask his name and emergency responder affiliation. Word of Morgan’s heroics was conveyed to Garden City Fire Department Chief Charles Cavarra by higher-ups at the Lynbrook Fire Department. Mayor Brudie was equally effusive in his praise.
“Firefighter Morgan, the Village of Garden City and the Garden City Fire Department are proud of the professionalism displayed by you on July 23, 2012 and the honor that you have brought to this village and the Garden City Fire Department.”
Following the presentation of these commendations, both men had their photos taken with the mayor, their families and employment superiors.
