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Martin Horanburg is statewide winner of FASNY Fire Service Community Achievement Award

by jmaloni

Submitted

Sat, Jul 19th 2014 12:00 am

Newfane resident and Miller Hose Fire Co. member receives statewide award recognizing tireless dedication to his community

This coming weekend, Newfane resident and Miller Hose Volunteer Fire Department member Martin (Marty) Horanburg will be presented with the Firemen's Association of the State of New York Fire Service Community Achievement Award for his tireless efforts to give back to his community.

The award presentation will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Miller Hose Fire picnic ground, 6161 McKee St., Newfane.

For nearly 50 years, Horanburg has dedicated himself to the residents of the Town of Newfane as a member of Miller Hose. He has had a long and distinguished career as a firefighter, holding various offices, including second assistant chief, assistant chief, fire chief, assistant treasurer and vice president. In addition, he was named Miller Hose Firefighter of the Year in 1981.

Although Horanburg does not currently hold an office, he is an active member of numerous organizational and fundraising committees within the department.

It is his volunteer efforts outside the firehouse that have garnered this statewide recognition by FASNY. In fact, in addition to his full-time employment and volunteer firefighting efforts, Horanburg keeps up a schedule that would rival individuals many decades his junior.

"You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who dedicates themselves as much as Marty to their community. He is a true inspiration and the definition of volunteer," said FASNY President James Burns. "I can't think of a better representative of FASNY and a more deserving candidate for this award."

Horanburg currently sits on Eastern Niagara Hospital board of directors, is a member of the Town of Newfane Business Association, the Newfane Sports Booster Club, and is known as the "Voice of Newfane," in his role as the volunteer announcer for all Newfane High School basketball and football games.

He was a volunteer coach and game day emcee for more than a decade at the New Will Ran Youth Football Program, where he also served as president. He is currently a 35-year member of the Newfane Lions Club, where he coordinates the annual Easter egg hunt, volunteers for the breakfast with Santa, and is a "Swim for Sight" volunteer. For his efforts, Horanburg was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in 2001, the highest honor bestowed by the Lions Club for volunteerism and brotherhood.

For the past 15 years, Horanburg has played an active role in the revival of the Olcott Carousel Park, and volunteers weekly during the summer as a ticket counter.

All of these volunteer efforts began when Horanburg was an 18-year-old high school graduate from Barker High School. Horanburg joined the United States Navy and proudly served his country for four years.

The Fire Service Community Achievement Award is presented to a person who is an outstanding member of a volunteer fire department. This individual leads by example, by doing things, not by asking others to do it. As an active, longtime member of the department, this person shows total dedication to the volunteer fire service. In addition to being an outstanding volunteer within the fire department, this individual finds time to volunteer with various community, religious or charitable organizations. Through the years, this person has been a helping hand to community activities and organizations in need of volunteer

Founded in 1872, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York represents the interests of the more than 92,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.

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