LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Anthony Milito Jr., distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Milito Jr. of Wantagh, New York died on June 19,
2009, at the age of 60; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Calhoun High School, Anthony Milito Jr. earned
an associate's degree from SUNY Farmingdale in 1969 and enlisted in the
United States Army the following year; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Milito Jr. went through basic training at Fort Dix in
New Jersey and completed advanced infantry training at Fort Ord in Cali-
fornia before serving with Company D, American Division of the 11th
Infantry Brigade in Chu Lai, South Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, Promoted to Sergeant on December 23, 1971, Anthony Milito Jr.
earned a Vietnam Service Medal, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and
a National Defense Service Medal, as well as a Combat Infantry Badge,
awarded to those who fought in active combat, and a United States Army
Sharpshooter Medal; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Milito Jr. also earned a Purple Heart when he was
shot by a sniper while moving across a rice paddy; after spending two
months recovering in a hospital, he was assigned to a judge advocate
general's corps office in Texas, where he helped program one of the
first IBM word processors, igniting a lifelong interest in computers;
and
WHEREAS, Once out of the service, Anthony Milito Jr. returned to
school and earned a degree in computer science from the New York Insti-
tute of Technology in 1974; the network and systems administrator for
the Half Hollow Hills School District in Dix Hills, he completed a
master's in science technology in 2000 at C.W. Post, at the age of 51;
and
WHEREAS, The commander of the Bellmore American Legion Post No. 948
for a decade, Anthony Milito Jr. was a fixture at local veterans' and
other community events, who also co-chaired the joint Memorial Day
Parade of the Bellmores for the past four years; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Anthony Milito Jr. chaired the Nassau County
American Legion's National Emergency Fund and Public Relations commit-
tees, and was a member of the 40 & 8, the by-invitation-only honor soci-
ety of the American Legion, as well as the Vietnam Veterans Association;
and
WHEREAS, Anthony Milito Jr. is survived by his wife of close to 34
years, Susan, their son, Shaun, daughter and son-in-law, Erinn and
Nicholas Martone, and two grandchildren, Brandon and Ryan, all of whom
felt privileged to be a part of his life and rejoiced in his many
achievements; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Anthony Milito Jr. leaves
behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Anthony Milito Jr., distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Anthony Milito Jr.
.SO DOC S R2874 *END* RESO TEXT