LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the dedication of the Haitian Memo-
rial in honor of Haiti's lost sons and daughters, to be observed with a
Day of Solidarity and Prayer on Sunday, May 16, 2010

WHEREAS, The power of human compassion and the strength of the American
spirit were exemplified by the countless individuals who gave of them-
selves in the wake of the unprecedented tragedy which befell the Nation
of Haiti on January 12, 2010; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
dedication of the Haitian Memorial in honor of Haiti's lost sons and
daughters, to be observed with a Day of Solidarity and Prayer on Sunday,
May 16, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Tuesday, May 18, 2010, will mark the 206th anniversary of
Haiti's independence; this year, the Haitian Flag Day will be celebrated
in the shadow of the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of January
12th; and
WHEREAS, Over 230,000 men, women and children died in the overwhelming
disaster, and in the tumult and chaos that ensued, proper burials could
not be attained; and
WHEREAS, At noon on Sunday, May 16, 2010, Haitians and friends of
Haiti will join for a day of prayer and solidarity with the Nation of
Haiti to honor the fallen; open to the general public, this memorial
will show all those who survived, that New Yorkers are advocating for a
new and progressive Haiti which will raise the standards of living for
all; and
WHEREAS, The daily itinerary for this special event, includes: a pray-
er gathering at the Grand Army Plaza Archway; a procession from the
Grand Army Plaza Archway over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan ending
in Foley Square Park, the site of the African burial grounds; a ceremony
in Foley Square Park giving thanks to all global support Haiti received
along with sharing the history of Haiti and a look into the future, and
also acknowledging the 230,000 Haitians who perished, and a closing
Moment of Silence with an ecumenical ceremony; and
WHEREAS, The National Organization for the advancement of Haitians
(NOAH) was founded in 1991 as a not-for-profit social policy corporation
in response to the refugee crisis resulting from political unrest and
upheaval in Haiti; NOAH serves as a national, non-partisan organization
dedicated to the restoration and preservation of democaracy in Haiti; in
addition, this organization is dedicated to providing medical and huma-
nitarian relief to Haitians from natural disasters and facilitating the
training of Haitian medical professionals as well as building the
medical care infrastructure in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, NOAH NY, a chapter of NOAH is committed to providing under-
served communities in Haiti with free medical care; each year, NOAH NY
organizes a week-long medical mission to a town or city in Haiti in
order to provide everything from routine medical checkups to lifesaving
surgical procedures; and
WHEREAS, The New York Chapter of the Association of Haitian Physicians
Abroad is a 35-year-old membership not-for-profit organization of over
1,000 physicians of Haitian ancestry; they are well-represented in clin-
ical practice and academia throughout New York State; the primary focus
of the organization is to assist in meeting the health care needs of the
community-at-large and to provide professional development opportunities
for physicians; and
WHEREAS, The sponsors of this symbolic memorial include: NOAH NY Haiti
Memorial Organizers, AMHE, KOREH -- Kombit Rekonstriction, Haiti KOSAA-
Komite, SoutyinPou Avansman Ansedeno, EMPCH, Inc., TRAIN DM, Joseph

Baptiste, DDS, Dolcine Dalmacy, M.D., Henry Paul, M.D., Michel-Jose
Charles, M.D., FHED Inc., Avenue L Merchants Association, First Haitian
Baptist Church of Canarsie, the Dunamis Christian Center, and Health-
first, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, These united organizations and distinguished individuals join
with the entire Haitian community as it honors with gratitude, and
remembers with affection, all who lived, worked, gave their lives, or
whose lives were taken, in the disaster which befell the Nation of Haiti
on January 12, 2010; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body, pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the dedication of the Haitian Memorial in honor of Haiti's
lost sons and daughters, to be observed with a Day of Solidarity and
Prayer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the aforementioned sponsors.