LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Alexi Salamone upon the occasion of
receiving the Citizen of the Year Award from the Grand Island Chamber of
Commerce on April 29, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those exemplary individuals within the State of New York whose extraor-
dinary spirit and determination serve as an inspiration to all citizens;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Alexi Salamone upon the occasion of receiving the Citizen of the Year
Award from the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, Alexi Salamone will be honored at the Grand Island Chamber of
Commerce's 44th Annual Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet to be held on
Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Grand Island Holiday Inn Resort and
Conference Center; and
WHEREAS, A native of Briansk, Ukraine, Alexi was very young when both
his legs needed to be removed due to a medical condition; a few years
later, at the age of six, he was adopted by the Salamone family and
moved to the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Although doctors believed he would never walk, Alexi Salamone
overcame many obstacles and became an outstanding athlete who was a
member of the wrestling team while a student at Grand Island High
School; and
WHEREAS, Alexi Salamone, 22, was also introduced to skating by the
Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped (S.A.B.A.H.) and soon
discovered the sport of hockey; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Alexi Salamone was convinced to play sled hockey, a
game he immediately loved; one year later, he qualified for the Junior
National Team and shortly thereafter was named to the Senior National
Team; and
WHEREAS, Alexi Salamone, a forward, has consistently been one of the
best sled hockey players in the world; he has been part of the bronze
medal-winning U. S. teams at two major international competitions, the
2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, and the 2008 IPC Ice
Sledge Hockey World Championships in Marlborough, Massachusetts, where
he led Team USA in scoring with 10 points (2 goals and 8 assists); and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Alexi Salamone and the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey
Team defeated Japan to win the gold medal in the Winter Games at Vancou-
ver; he scored the first of Team USA's two goals; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his parents, Susan and John
Salamone, and his sister, Amelia, all of whom feel privileged to be a
part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Alexi Salamone's extraordinary athletic talent and unwavering
fortitude shine like beacons making him a superb role model for all the
athletes and citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such enduring courage and accomplishment are brought to our
attention, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those
individuals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Alexi Salamone upon the occasion of receiving the Citizen of the
Year Award from the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce on April 29, 2010;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Alexi Salamone.