Bill Text: NY J02066 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Louis Levi Oakes, meritorious veteran, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-18 - ADOPTED [J02066 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02066-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2066

BY: Senator LITTLE

        MOURNING   the   death   of   Louis   Levi  Oakes,
        meritorious  veteran,  distinguished   citizen   and
        devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  profound  sorrow that this Legislative Body,
representing the people of the State of New York, is moved this  day  to
pay  tribute to an eminent man of indomitable faith and dedication whose
service and  accomplishments  will  forever  stand  as  a  paradigm  and
inspiration for others; and

  WHEREAS,  Louis  Levi  "Tahagietagwa"  Oakes of the Mohawk Nation at
Akwesasne, died on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at the age of 94; and

  WHEREAS, Louis Levi Oakes was born January 23, 1925, in  St.  Regis,
Quebec,  the  son  of the late Angus and Mary (Porke) Oakes; he attended
schools on the reservation and later received his  high  school  diploma
through  Operation  Education  in  cooperation with the St. Regis Mohawk
Tribe and Salmon River Central School; and

  WHEREAS, At the age of 18, Louis Levi  Oakes  valiantly  served  his
country  as  a  Technician  Fifth  Grade with the Company B 442nd Signal
Battalion, United States Army during  World  War  II;  he  received  his
formal  military training as a Code Talker while stationed in Louisiana;
and

  WHEREAS, Louis Levi Oakes was very proud of his  work  as  a  Mohawk
Code  Talker and that it was the only unbroken code in military history;
he recalled General Douglas MacArthur sitting next to  him  telling  him
what to communicate in code; and

  WHEREAS,  During  his  six  years  of  service, Louis Levi Oakes saw
action in the South Pacific, New Guinea and Philippines theatres; and

  WHEREAS, Louis Levi Oakes was honorably discharged on  February  16,
1946,  and  was  awarded  the  American  Silver  Star, the third-highest
military combat decoration for gallantry in action against an  enemy  of
the United States; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  the  completion  of his military service, Louis Levi
Oakes worked iron in the Buffalo area for three decades before returning
back to the reservation where he served the Mohawk Council of  Akwesasne
Department  of  Public  Works,  retiring as supervisor after 30 years of
distinguished service; and

  WHEREAS, Louis Levi Oakes was the proud recipient of numerous awards
and accolades, including the 2016 Congressional  Silver  Medal;  he  was
recognized  for  his  service  at  the  Special  Chiefs  Assembly at the
Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa,  as  well  as  by  members  of  the
parliament  from  the House of Commons in Ottawa; he was also nationally
recognized as the last living Mohawk Code Talker in 2017; and

  WHEREAS, A lifelong communicant of St.  Regis  Catholic  Church  and
life  member  of the Andrew W. Cook American Legion Post No. 1479, Louis

Levi Oakes enjoyed  gardening,  driving  around  the  community  on  his
machinery,  weaving  rugs,  and  cherished the time he was able to visit
with his children and grandchildren; and

  WHEREAS,   In   addition  to  his  parents,  Louis  Levi  Oakes  was
predeceased by his wife, Annabelle;  his  sons,  Lawrence,  Charles  and
Gaitlin;  a  son-in-law,  Sam;  his  sister, Margaret; and his brothers,
Samuel, Lawrence and John; he is survived  by  his  children  and  their
spouses,  Diane  and Herman Swamp, Louis Oakes, Raymond Oakes, Wally and
Bonnie Oakes, Dora Oakes, Debbie  Oakes  and  Mark  O'Neil,  and  Joseph
Oakes;   many   grandchildren,   great   grandchildren  and  great-great
grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  Louis  Levi  Oakes  leaves  behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn  the death of Louis Levi Oakes, meritorious veteran, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Louis Levi Oakes.