Bill Text: NY J01474 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring John A. Berdinka upon the occasion of being named the Westhampton Free Library Hometown Hero on May 18, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-14 - ADOPTED [J01474 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01474-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 395

BY: M. of A. Thiele

        HONORING  John  A.  Berdinka  upon the occasion of
        being named the Westhampton  Free  Library  Hometown
        Hero on May 18, 2019

  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; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly  proud  to  honor  John  A.
Berdinka  upon  the occasion of being named the Westhampton Free Library
Hometown Hero to be  celebrated  on  Saturday,  May  18,  2019,  at  the
Westhampton Beach Fire House, Westhampton Beach, New York; and

  WHEREAS, In January of 2018, the Westhampton Free Library culminated
a  year-long  Hometown  Hero program honoring local veterans; this year,
the library is rekindling the program by paying tribute, each month,  to
a member of the American Legion; and

  WHEREAS,  For  his  courageous and dedicated service to his country,
John A. Berdinka will be recognized at this  year's  May  Hometown  Hero
Ceremony; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  on  October  18,  1946,  John A. Berdinka grew up in
Westhampton, graduating from Westhampton Beach High School in  1964;  he
went  on  to study automotive mechanics at Voorhees Technical Institute,
part of the modern-day New York City College of Technology; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the  completion  of  his  studies,  John  A.  Berdinka
enlisted  in  the  United  States  Navy; he completed boot camp at Naval
Station Great Lakes in Illinois, and was sent to his first duty  station
in Adak, Alaska, where he spent eight months; and

  WHEREAS,  John  A.  Berdinka was then sent to the Naval Construction
Battalion Center in Part Hueneme, California, where he was  assigned  to
Naval  Schools  Construction and received heavy mechanic training before
being  transferred  to  the  Naval  Construction  Battalion  Center   in
Gulfport, Mississippi; and

  WHEREAS,  Deployed to Vietnam with Mobil Construction Battalion 128,
John A. Berdinka was assigned to a night field crew, working  overnights
to repair equipment in the field; and

  WHEREAS,  In  July  of  1968,  John A. Berdinka was sent back to the
United States to receive additional military and mechanical training; in
December  of  the  same  year,  he  returned  to  Vietnam  for   another
eight-month tour working in the shop; and

  WHEREAS,  Separated  from  active  duty  in  August of 1969, John A.
Berdinka returned to Westhampton, where  he  went  to  work  for  George
Eckart  pumping gas and repairing cars, followed by a 10-year stint with
Chesterfield Associates; and

  WHEREAS, John A. Berdinka went on to  have  a  distinguished  career
with  the  Southampton  Town  Highway  Department  as  a shop foreman, a
position he held for 25 years before retiring; and

  WHEREAS,  With  him  throughout have been his wife of 47 years, Dot,
and their four children, William, Matthew, Erik and  Kristen,  who  have
all shown him love and support and rejoice in his many achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  Active  in  his community, John A. Berdinka is a member of
VFW Post No. 5350 and the Westhampton Beach Historical Society; 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
honor John A. Berdinka upon the occasion of being named the  Westhampton
Free Library Hometown Hero on May 18, 2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to John A. Berdinka.