Bill Text: NY J00890 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending Herbert C. Thorpe upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the Lake Delta Kiwanis on May 17, 2023

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-09 - ADOPTED [J00890 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00890-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 890

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        COMMENDING  Herbert C. Thorpe upon the occasion of
        his designation for special recognition by the  Lake
        Delta Kiwanis on May 17, 2023

  WHEREAS,  Members  of the Armed Services from the State of New York,
who have served so  valiantly  and  honorably  in  wars  in  which  this
country's  freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace
in peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and

  WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend  those
who  have  served in times of active conflict, as well as those who have
served in times of peace; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Herbert C.
Thorpe upon the occasion of his designation for special  recognition  by
the Lake Delta Kiwanis on May 17, 2023; and

  WHEREAS,  The  dedication  and  sacrifices of our military personnel
ensure our continued role as a  Nation  which  embodies  the  ideals  of
democracy,  and  is  a  defender  of  liberty for peoples throughout the
world; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert C. Thorpe was born in New York City and  raised  in
Brooklyn,  New  York;  he attended Brooklyn Public Schools and graduated
from high school in 1940; he enrolled in the U.S. Civilian  Conservation
Corps  (CCC)  and  served  in  camps at Van Etten, New York, Camden, New
York, and Beltsville, Maryland from 1940 to 1942; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert C. Thorpe enlisted in the U.S.   Army Reserves  and
attended  U.S. Signal Corps School in Troy, New York until the Spring of
1943; he began his active-duty service at  military  basic  training  in
June of 1943 at Ft. Dix, New Jersey and Kcams Field, Utah; and

  WHEREAS,  While  in  Utah,  he applied and was accepted for Aviation
Cadet School in December of 1943; in 1944, he was sent to Keesler  Field
in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he completed altitude testing; and

  WHEREAS, In January 1944, he transferred to Aviation Cadet School at
Tuskegee  Institute,  Alabama; after completing Primary Flight School at
the Institute, he was transferred to Basic  Training  Flight  School  at
Tuskegee  Army  Air  Field  (TAAF)  and  was  selected  with  others for
Multi-Engine training; and

  WHEREAS, In mid-1944,  he  was  transferred  to  Gunnery  School  at
Tyndall  Field,  Florida, then to Bombardier/Navigator School at Midland
Army Air Field in Texas; and

  WHEREAS, Commissioned as a 2nd  Lieutenant  Navigator/Bombardier  on
December  30,  1944,  in  Midland,  Texas,  2nd  Lt.  Thorpe returned to
Tuskegee and began Advanced Flight Training school and  qualified  as  a
B-25 (twin-engine) Pilot at TAAF in October of 1945; he remained at TAAF
and left the service in August of 1946; and

  WHEREAS,  After his involvement with the military, Herbert C. Thorpe
attended New York University and graduated as an Electrical Engineer; he
spent time working as a Radar Systems Engineer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
and as  a  Radar  Research  Engineer  in  Beacon  Systems  at  Rome  Air
Development  Center  Griffiss AFB; he additionally served as a part time
counselor at Mohawk Valley Community College for thirteen years; and

  WHEREAS, Herbert C. Thorpe's community involvement includes  service
as  a 50-year Member of the First Presbyterian Church in Rome, New York;
Charter Member, Secretary & Past President of  the  Rome  Branch  NAACP;
Charter  Member & Secretary of the Former Prince Hall Military Lodge No.
112;  Charter  Member  and  Secretary  of  the  Afro-American   Heritage
Association  in  Rome,  New  York;  Charter  Member, Past President, and
Secretary of the Mohawk Valley Frontiers Club; Past Member and  Advisory
Board  of  the  Oneida  County Office for the Aging; and a Member of the
Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI), Claude B.   Govan Tri-State Chapter  of  New
York; and

  WHEREAS,  Herbert C. Thorpe was presented with the honorable 1st New
York State Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2012 and in
2013; he also received the esteemed Rome Historical Society  1777  Medal
of Honor Award; and

  WHEREAS,   His   wife,   children,   numerous   grandchildren,   and
great-grandchildren, all feel privileged to be a part of  his  life  and
rejoice in his plentiful achievements; and

  WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with  which these men and women served their country, and must recognize
that no greater debt is owed than that owed  to  those  who  gave  their
lives  for  their beloved Nation and to those who continue to be missing
in action; and

  WHEREAS, Having exhibited their patriotism both at home and  abroad,
these  men and women demonstrated their love for their country and merit
forevermore, the highest respect of their State and Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized,  commended,
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for  their  dedication  to  their  communities,  their  State, and their
Nation; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  Herbert  C.  Thorpe  upon  the  occasion of his designation for
special recognition by the Lake Delta Kiwanis on May 17, 2023; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Herbert C. Thorpe.