LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying just tribute and remembering the 13
victims who lost their lives to a gunman during the American Civic Asso-
ciation tragedy on Friday, April 3, 2009

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the tragic incident that took
place at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, New York, and the
loss of life that has been sustained by the victims as well as the hear-
tache and suffering of their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, 13 people, comprised of two employees and 11 immigrants, who
were inside the upstate New York immigration center, were shot and
killed by a single gunman on Friday, April 3, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The community center was used in great part to teach people
from countries as far away as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to speak and
write English with the goal of gaining U.S. citizenship; and
WHEREAS, The deceased include: Parveen Nln Ali, Binghamton, New York;
Dolores Yigal, Binghamton, New York; Marc Henry Bernard, Endicott, New
York; Maria Sonia Bernard, Endicott, New York; Li Guo, Binghamton, New
York; Hong Xiu Mao, Greene, New York; Lan Ho, Binghamton, New York; Hai
Hong Zhong, Endwell, New York; Maria Zobniw, Binghamton, New York;
Roberta "Bobbie" King, Binghamton, New York; Almir O. Alves; Jiang Ling,
Endicott, New York; and Layla Khalil, Binghamton, New York; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved with great respect and rever-
ent esteem to pay tribute to the heroic actions of each and every
victim, knowing that their memory will forever remain with their fami-
lies; and
WHEREAS, Armed with humanistic spirits, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by loving families, each of these 13 brave
individuals leave behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of
time and will remain as a comforting memory to all they befriended; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
just tribute to the 13 victims who lost their lives as the result of the
senseless action of a gunman during the American Civic Association trag-
edy, and to express sincere condolences to their families and the Bing-
hamton community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the families of the 13 victims.