Bill Text: NY J01374 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Commemorating September 20, 2019, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-07 - ADOPTED [J01374 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01374-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 1374

BY: Senator BROOKS

        COMMEMORATING  September  20,  2019,  as  National
        POW/MIA Recognition Day

  WHEREAS, It is the sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  join  the
members   of  Vietnam  Veterans  of  America  in  commemorating  Friday,
September 20, 2019, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout our Nation's  history,  the  men  and  women  of
America's  Armed  Forces  have  preserved  our  freedom,  protected  our
security and upheld our democratic values; and

  WHEREAS, From the battles of the  American  Revolution  through  the
crucible  of  two  world wars to the war on terrorism today, our men and
women in uniform have stood proudly in defense of the United States  and
in  the  cause of liberty; since our Nation's birth, more than a million
have paid the price of that liberty with their lives; and

  WHEREAS, Joining the ranks of these heroes  are  the  thousands  who
have been prisoners of war or whose fates have never been resolved; many
have been lost in the chaos of battle, the grief of their loss made more
acute  for  their  families  and  their  fellow Americans because of the
inability to  determine  whether  they  perished  or  survived;  captive
Americans,  cruelly stripped of their freedom, treated with contempt and
brutality, or used as pawns by their captors, have fought  long,  lonely
battles  against  despair,  physical  and psychological torture, and the
ultimate fear of being forgotten; and

  WHEREAS, We also remember  our  fellow  Americans  who  continue  to
suffer   the   uncertainties  of  wartime;  the  families,  friends  and
supporters of those Missing in Action (MIAs) and Prisoners of War (POWs)
who continue to suffer deep anguish and grave concern for the plight  of
their  loved  ones who are numbered among the MIAs and POWs who, because
of the  uncertainty  surrounding  their  fates,  are  not  afforded  the
recognition which they, indeed, have earned for the sacrifices they have
made and the heroism they have displayed; and

  WHEREAS,  At the end of the Vietnam War, there reportedly were 2,583
unaccounted for American prisoners, missing or killed in  action,  their
bodies not recovered; and

  WHEREAS,  The  sacrifices of Americans still missing and unaccounted
for and their families are deserving of special recognition and  support
for  continued  priority  efforts to determine the fate of those missing
Americans; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations  and
respectfully   commemorate  September  20,  2019,  as  National  POW/MIA
Recognition Day, and to urge all citizens of the State of  New  York  to
display  the Nation's flag that week out of respect for the POWs and the
MIAs of this great Empire State; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
submitted  to Vietnam Veterans organizations throughout the State of New
York.