LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Joseph Librizzi upon the occasion of
receiving the 2009 New York State Senior Citizen of the Year Award on
May 6, 2009

WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to
the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their past
contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and valuable
asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Joseph Librizzi upon the occasion of receiving the 2009 New York State
Senior Citizen of the Year Award on May 6, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Librizzi has given not only of his time and energies
but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for this special honor; and
WHEREAS, An 82-year-old retired high school teacher, Joseph Librizzi
is a World War II Navy veteran who served on the submarine, USS Balao,
in the Pacific; every day, he labors to rekindle patriotism in those who
fought and in everyday Americans for whose freedom they fought; and
WHEREAS, To keep alive the memory of the more than 3,600 sailors who
died at sea, Joseph Librizzi co-founded United States Submarine Veterans
of World War II in 1955; the USS Runner, the local chapter which he also
established, holds a memorial service 10 times a year at its base at the
First Marine Corps District headquarters in Garden City, where partic-
ipants toll a bell for each of the 52 boats that sank during the war;
and
WHEREAS, Joseph Librizzi launched a flag education program through the
United Veterans Organization of Nassau County in the late 1990s, which
has educated more than 200,000 local students about flag etiquette; he
also volunteers with other veterans twice a year cleaning and maintain-
ing veterans' monuments in Eisenhower Park in the Town of Hempstead; and
WHEREAS, Last year, Joseph Librizzi developed a program with the
United Veterans Organization of Nassau County and the Veterans Services
Agency of Nassau County to honor Korean War veterans at a special cere-
mony on Veterans Day in Eisenhower Park that was attended by more than
500 people; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Joseph Librizzi serves local homeless veterans
at the National Guard Armory in Freeport and the American Legion Hall in
Hempstead through the Veterans Services Agency of Nassau County, where
they receive meals, showers, clothing, counseling for job placement and
information on eligibility requirements for social security benefits and
affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, Since 1992, Joseph Librizzi has also been a volunteer at
South Nassau Hospital, where he has helped out as a messenger, working
in the emergency room and running errands for the hospital staff; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Joseph Librizzi has displayed
throughout his life; he has been called upon to contribute his time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Joseph Librizzi upon the occasion of receiving the 2009 New York
State Senior Citizen of the Year Award on May 6, 2009, and to wish him
continued success in all of his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joseph Librizzi.