Bill Text: NY J02103 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending Casey Frankoski posthumously upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-09 - ADOPTED [J02103 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J02103-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2103

BY: Senator ASHBY

        COMMENDING  Casey  Frankoski posthumously upon the
        occasion  of  her  designation  as  recipient  of  a
        Liberty  Medal,  the  highest honor bestowed upon an
        individual by the New York State Senate

  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 esteemed Body; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to commend Casey
Frankoski posthumously upon the occasion of her 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,  Casey  Frankoski  of Rensselaer, New York, died on Friday,
March 8, 2024, at the age of 28; and

  WHEREAS, While on a federal mission with the National  Guard,  Casey
Frankoski's  helicopter  crashed near the southern border of Texas where
she and other soldiers  were  assigned  to  a  regiment  that  has  been
operating  as  part  of  Joint  Task  Force North, a military unit which
supports  U.S.  Customs  and  Border  Protection   operations   on   the
southwestern border of the United States; 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, A graduate of Columbia High School and  Schenectady  County
Community  College  where she received a degree in social science, Casey
Frankoski was in pursuit of receiving a bachelor's degree  in  emergency
management at Excelsior College; she later enlisted in the New York Army
National Guard; and

  WHEREAS,  Casey Frankoski served in the New York Army National Guard
since 2016, and was appointed as  Chief  Warrant  Officer  in  2019  and
trained  to become a UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopter pilot;
she was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2 in 2021; and

  WHEREAS, Casey Frankoski also deployed to Kuwait, from  November  of
2018  to September of 2019, with Detachment 5, Company C, 2nd Battalion,
245th Aviation Regiment;  the  unit  flies  the  Army's  C-12  transport
aircraft; and

  WHEREAS,  She  was  later  deployed  as  a  pilot  to Texas with the
Detachment 2, Company A, 1st Battalion, 224 Aviation Regiment to  patrol
the United States-Mexico border on October 11, 2023; and

  WHEREAS,  Her  military  awards include the Army Commendation Medal,
the Army Achievement Medal, the  National  Defense  Service  Medal,  the
Global  War  on  Terrorism  Service  Medal,  the Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed  Forces  Service
Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the
Armed  Forces  Reserve  Medal,  the  Basic  Aviator Badge, and the Basic
Aviation Badge; and

  WHEREAS,  At  home,  Casey  Frankoski  was  previously  a  volunteer
firefighter  at  the  Best  Luther  Fire  Department,  a  member  of the
Environmental Conservation Corp., and a current member of  the  American
Legion Gerald O'Neil Post 1683; and

  WHEREAS,  Having  exhibited  her patriotism both at home and abroad,
Casey Frankoski  demonstrated  her  love  for  her  country  and  merits
forevermore the highest respect of her 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  Casey  Frankoski  posthumously  upon  the   occasion   of   her
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 the family of Casey Frankoski.