Bill Text: NY J03209 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 3209 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Urging the NYS Congressional delegation to propose to the President to designate a state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-08 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J03209 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03209-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 3209

BY: Senator BROOKS

        URGING the New York State Congressional delegation
        to  respectfully  propose  to  the  President of the
        United States to designate a state funeral  for  the
        last  surviving  Medal of Honor recipient from World
        War II

  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,  World  War  II lasted from 1939 until 1945, and the United
States entered the war in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor; and

  WHEREAS, Over 16 million Americans  served  their  country  and  its
allies over the course of the war; and

  WHEREAS,  The  generation of men and women who served our country in
World War II  has  been  called  "the  greatest  generation"  for  their
selfless sacrifice; and

  WHEREAS  The  Medal of Honor, presented by the President of the United
States, in the name of Congress,  is  the  highest  military  decoration
awarded by the United States government; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Medal  of Honor is only conferred upon members of the
United  States  Armed  Forces   who   distinguish   themselves   through
conspicuous  gallantry  and  intrepidity  at  the risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of  the
United  States,  while engaged in military operations involving conflict
with an opposing foreign force, or while serving  with  friendly  forces
engaged  in  an  armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which
the United States is not a belligerent party; and

  WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been  awarded  to  our
nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen
since the creation of the award in 1861; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Medal  of  Honor  was awarded to 473 Americans during
World War II, and only two of those 473 Americans are alive today; and

  WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel W. Williams of
West Virginia both served their country with conspicuous  gallantry  and
intrepidity  at  the risk of life and therefore deserve the gratitude of
the American people; 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;
and

  WHEREAS,  The  President of the United States has the sole authority
to designate a state funeral; historically, the Commander in  Chief  has

designated  state  funerals  for  former presidents, generals, and other
extraordinary Americans; and

  WHEREAS,  Designating  a state funeral when the last surviving World
War II Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful  way  for  the
American people to unite and honor all 16 million soldiers, sailors, and
airmen who served in our armed forces from 1941 to 1945; now, therefore,
be it

  RESOLVED,  That  the  Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized  by  this  Legislative  Body  to  respectfully
propose  to  the  President  of  the  United States to designate a state
funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from  World  War
II; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the President of the Senate of  the  United  States,  the
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and to each member of the
Congress of the United States from the State of New York.