Senate Resolution No. 2907

BY: Senator JORDAN

COMMENDING William A. Hanson posthumously upon the
occasion of his 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 Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend William A.
Hanson posthumously upon the occasion of his 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, Born on August 9, 1941, to Joseph and Mary Grace (Allinger)
Hanson, in Old Chatham, New York, William A. Hanson attended Canaan
Elementary School and Chatham High School, graduating in 1959; and

WHEREAS, William A. Hanson began his illustrious military service
with the United States Air Force on October 17, 1961, in Albany, New
York, as a 2nd Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base
in Texas, William A. Hanson received additional training at Keesler Air
Force Base in Mississippi as an Apprentice Aircraft Control and Warning
Operator; and

WHEREAS, Assigned to 756 Radar Squadron (Air Defense Command) and
given duties to detect vessels, planes and vehicles before they entered
an area of operations, Airman 2nd Class William A. Hanson directed
aircraft strikes and surveillance, and served as a radar operator
overseas at the Alaconte Air Station in Spain for 11 months during the
Cold War; and

WHEREAS, A truly remarkable soldier, Airman 2nd Class William A.
Hanson courageously served with Special Operations Ground Based of the
343 Combat Special Tactics Squadron despite extremely high tensions as a
result of the Cuban Missile Crisis; and

WHEREAS, For his courageous service, Airman 2nd Class William A.
Hanson was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal; and

WHEREAS, William A. Hanson married Judith Hatch on June 13, 1970, in
Spencertown, New York, and they raised three loving children, Elizabeth,
James and Kenneth; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, William A.
Hanson returned to New York to be with his family; he was a
self-employed electrician, owning and operating his own business, Canaan
Electric; he later served as Canaan Highway Superintendent and
Electrical Inspector for Columbia County; and

WHEREAS, Active in his community, William A. Hanson served for 50
years as a Fire Chief at Canaan Fire Company and was the co-founder of
the non-profit scholarship Power the Way for Education; and

WHEREAS, William A. Hanson died on December 15, 2018, in Canaan, New
York and is buried in St. James Cemetery in Ghent, New York; and

WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
William A. Hanson demonstrated his love for his country and merits
forevermore the highest respect of his 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 William A. Hanson posthumously upon the occasion of his
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 William A. Hanson.