Senate Resolution No. 549 BY: Senator KENNEDY COMMENDING Charles Everhart, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend the caring concern and heroic acts of individuals who take prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations, nobly risking their own lives in an effort to preserve the life of another; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Charles Everhart, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient 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, In January of 2023, Buffalo school bus driver Charles Everhart, Jr. was in the midst of his very first solo route dropping off a young student at the corner of Seventh and Carolina streets, a couple of blocks from the student's residence in an apartment complex, when he heard loud gunshots ring out from a group of boys on the adjacent corner, about 50 feet away; and WHEREAS, Charles Everhart, Jr. immediately sprang into action and ran to the back of the bus to lift the hatch and yelled for the student to keep running; the commotion caused the young men who were involved in the shooting to flee on foot; and WHEREAS, Charles Everhart, Jr. then alerted police, told them the direction the youths ran and drove around the block to the student's address to make sure he entered his residence safely; due to Charles' selfless efforts, the frightened second grader made it home safely; and WHEREAS, A few weeks later, Charles Everhart, Jr. was assigned that same bus route and took an extra few minutes to drive the grateful, young boy right to his door; and WHEREAS, Charles Everhart, Jr. has always been an active member of his community as a member of the True Bethel Baptist Church and as a volunteer for various organizations; and WHEREAS, Prior to his position with First Student, Charles Everhart, Jr. was the Regional Manager of Hallcon/Renzenberger where he flew across the country training other regional managers; in this capacity, he was responsible for 300 drivers, eight supervisors, and 100 vehicles in five states; and WHEREAS, Charles Everhart, Jr., in his spontaneous and heroic acts, has so aptly demonstrated his character and compassion for the welfare of others, personifying, by virtue of his action, the collective concern of ordinary citizens across the community of New York State who voluntarily respond without thought of danger or reward when others are in need of help; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Charles Everhart, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Charles Everhart, Jr.