LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the students from 10 local schools
from the State of New York upon the occasion of participating in the
2009 Songs for Troops Holiday Concert

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within this great Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who serve as role
models for their peers; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the students from 10 local schools from the State of New York upon the
occasion of participating in the 2009 Songs for Troops Holiday Concert
to be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2009; and
WHEREAS, At this most auspicious event, more than 1,500 New York music
students from 10 different schools will entertain United States Troops
stationed overseas; and
WHEREAS, Following the spirited tradition of USO performers who have
been brightening the holidays for GIs since the 1940s, the music depart-
ments from OUBOCES, Chester Campus, Chester, New York; Chester Academy,
Chester, New York; Monticello Central School District, Monticello, New
York; Minisink Valley Central School District, Slate Hill, New York;
Port Jervis City School District, Port Jervis, New York; Warwick Valley
Central School District, Warwick, New York; Monroe Woodbury Central
School District, Monroe, New York; Tuxedo School District, Tuxedo, New
York; Schenectady School District, Schenectady, New York; and The New
York Military Academy, Cornwall, New York, will unite to perform a very
special holiday concert for the troops; and
WHEREAS, Utilizing the Orange-Ulster BOCES ISDN-based video conferenc-
ing technology, the concert will be broadcast simultaneously from each
of the participating schools to members of the 3rd Infantry Division,
26th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) and perhaps a unit in Pakistan; the
two-way connection will also allow all the students in each of the
districts to see each other and their audiences overseas; and
WHEREAS, The Songs for Troops concert is organized by Chester Middle
School principal, Ernest Jackson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who
served most of his military career in the 3rd Infantry Division; he
commissioned West Point graduate Captain Jason Norwood of the 26th FAR;
a New York Troops to Teacher mentor, Jackson has been coordinating local
participation to support the troops for the past eight years; while he
continues to solicit donations for soldier care packages, mail and phone
cards, Songs for Troops is a way of getting a large number of students
actively involved in a community service project that will touch an even
larger number of soldiers - many of whom are away from their families
for the first time; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor the youth
of today, and leaders of tomorrow, whose character and achievements best
exemplify the ideals and values cherished by this great State and
Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the students from 10 local schools from the State of New York
upon the occasion of participating in the 2009 Songs for Troops Holiday
Concert; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ernest Jackson, Principal of Chester Middle School, and to
the aforementioned schools.