LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor
Guard Association upon the occasion of its 10th Anniversary

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services who have served valiantly and
honorably in wars in which our country's freedom was at stake, as well
as in the preservation of peace in peacetime, merit forevermore, the
highest respect of their State and nation; and
WHEREAS, In furtherance of that belief, it is the sense of this Legis-
lative Body to recognize the worthy and purposeful cause of organiza-
tions and individuals dedicated to honoring those who have served their
country; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 10th Anniversary of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard
Association and to pay tribute to its members, past and present, for
their enduring service; and
WHEREAS, In conjunction with the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga
National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York, the Saratoga National
Cemetery Honor Guard Association will respectfully observe this auspi-
cious occasion at the cemetery on Thursday, July 9, 2009, as it does
each year, with a Remembrance Ceremony for its deceased members and
their next of kin at the organization's memorial stone on Memorial Path-
way; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated on July 9, 1999 as Saratoga National Cemetery, the
116th of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' now 128 national ceme-
teries, it was renamed the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Ceme-
tery on January 24, 2002 in honor of Congressman Gerald B. H. Solomon
who, known as a champion of veterans' causes, spearheaded the effort to
create the cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs and successfully
led the drive to establish the national cemetery now named for him and
in which he is now interred; and
WHEREAS, A sacred trust, the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National
Cemetery, as do all our national cemeteries, honors veterans with final
resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that
commemorate their service to our nation with dignity, respect, and
compassion; and
WHEREAS, The Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association was
formed in January 1999 and incorporated on July 9, 1999, in conjunction
with the opening of the cemetery; it is one of only three such honor
guard organizations in the country and the only one which is incorpo-
rated; and
WHEREAS, The Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association has
125 active members formed into six squads of 12-18 volunteers each; the
principal duty of the Honor Guard is to ensure that every honorably
discharged veteran receives a proper military burial service when
requested, a service provided at no charge to all eligible veterans; and
WHEREAS, Every Saratoga Honor Guard Association service requested for
a veteran provides full military honors and includes a firing party, a
live or mechanical bugler, a flag folding detail, and presentation of
the flag to next of kin; for services for those who died while on active
duty, the association supports the active service's burial party,
providing a firing party and a bugler; it also provides a Color Guard
for other ceremonies at the cemetery and performs the flag disposal
ceremonial ritual which accompanies the destruction of all flags depos-
ited at the cemetery; and
WHEREAS, Members of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Associ-
ation, supported only by donations and grants, make themselves available

for requested duties Mondays through Fridays, and on weekends when
requested, performing up to seven burials per day, often in temperatures
well below zero or over 100 degrees; and
WHEREAS, More than 1.4 million veterans live in New York and, of them,
225,000 live in the Albany/Saratoga area; there have been almost 8,400
burials at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery since it
opened in 1999; the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association
has proudly and reverently performed full military honors for 96 percent
of them and, at the end of every month, performs a service, presenting
the flag to the Cemetery Director, for those who did not have services
performed at the time of their burial; and
WHEREAS, The average age of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard
Association's current 125 active members is between 71 and 72 years of
age, many are in their early to mid eighties, and many are military
retirees with 20 or more years of active military service; and
WHEREAS, Having exhibited their patriotism both at home and abroad,
the members of the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association
continue to demonstrate their love for their country, generously
contributing thousands of hours of their time to the organization's
worthy endeavors every year, and deserve a special salute from this
Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Mindful of its proud and honored history, this Legislative
Body is proud to recognize the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard
Association, noting with just pride its enduring tradition of service
and the significance of the contributions and sacrifices of its members
who, through their efforts, continue to foster the traditions of patri-
otism, excellence, and commitment which have made this nation strong;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association upon
the occasion of its 10th Anniversary, to be celebrated on July 9, 2009,
noting that the quality and character of life in New York State remain
richly endowed and resolutely defended through such organizations of
true purpose and just cause, and commending its current and past members
for their efforts on behalf of a grateful State and nation; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Saratoga National Cemetery Honor Guard Association, 200
Duell Road, Schuylerville, New York 12871.