Assembly Resolution No. 691

BY: M. of A. Hunter

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 25, 2022, as Medal of Honor Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, Throughout our Nation's history, the men and women of
America's Armed Forces have preserved our freedom, protected our
security and upheld our democratic values; and

WHEREAS, From the battles of the American Revolution through the
crucible of two world wars to the war on terrorism today, our men and
women in uniform have stood proudly in defense of the United States and
in the cause of liberty; and

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor, the highest distinction that can be
awarded to a member of the Armed Forces, is awarded by the President in
the name of the Congress to members of the Armed Forces who have
distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty; and

WHEREAS, The Nation will forever be in debt to the recipients of the
Medal of Honor for their bravery and sacrifice in times of war or armed
conflict; and

WHEREAS, The first Medal of Honor awards were presented to six men
on March 25, 1863, by the Secretary of War; and

WHEREAS, The medal was last awarded on December 16, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Only 3,530 and counting individuals out of the millions of
men and women who have served our Nation in war, military operations, or
other armed conflicts have been awarded the Medal of Honor; the number
of Medal of Honor recipients are 3,511 and 66 number of living
recipients; 19 have received a second award, with 14 of them who
received two separate Medals for two separate actions; and five have
received both the Navy and the Army Medal of Honor for the same action;
and

WHEREAS, In 2007, two Medals of Honor were awarded posthumously to a
Marine and a Navy SEAL from the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps. of
Scio, New York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on January
11, 2007, for his heroic action on April 14, 2004, in Karabilah, Iraq;
and

WHEREAS, Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of Patchogue, New
York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on October 22, 2007;
and

WHEREAS, The first United States Navy SEAL since the Vietnam War to
be awarded the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Murphy is the third recipient
since troops were sent to Afghanistan in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch, from
Rochester, New York, passed away on December 26, 2021 at the age of 74;
he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Nixon on October 15,
1973, for conspicuous gallantry in action at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, The National Headquarters and Museum for the Congressional
Medal of Honor Society is located aboard the aircraft carrier USS
Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant,
South Carolina and

WHEREAS, On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law
legislation establishing the Medal of Honor Monument to recognize the
Medal of Honor; the monument will be located in Washington, D.C. and
will complement the future National Medal of Honor Museum to be located
in Arlington, Texas; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to honor the heroic recipients of the
Medal of Honor; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 25, 2022, as Medal
of Honor Day in the State of New York, and to urge all citizens of the
State of New York to display the Nation's flag on that date to honor all
recipients of the Medal of Honor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; and the National Headquarters and Museum for the Congressional
Medal of Honor.