LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the untimely death of Lieutenant Nathan
H. Williams and paying tribute to his devoted service as a member of the
United States Navy

WHEREAS, The courage and bravery of our military personnel ensures our
continued role as a Nation which embodies the ideals of democracy, and
as a defender of liberty for people throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, It is with feelings of deepest regret that this Legislative
Body mourns the untimely death of Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams, and
pays tribute to his devoted service as a member of the United States
Navy; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams died on Wednesday, April 6,
2011, at the age of 28, at Lemoore Naval Air Station in Lemoore, Cali-
fornia; and
WHEREAS, The son of Alan and Gay Williams, Lieutenant Nathan H.
Williams was born in Oswego, New York on June 11, 1982; he attended
Oswego High School where he played varsity hockey and varsity lacrosse,
and played saxophone in the wind ensemble, marching band and jazz band;
and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams attended the University of
Rochester on a Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship; he
joined the Theta Chi Fraternity, where he served as house steward and
vice president; and
WHEREAS, While at the University of Rochester, Lieutenant Nathan H.
Williams met his future wife, Meredith Rauch, of Delmar, New York; he
graduated in May of 2004, with departmental honors in math, and was
commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, From the time Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams entered the ROTC
program, he knew he wanted to fly; his hard work in the program paid
off, and in the summer of 2004, he reported for duty at Naval Air
Station Pensacola for flight training; and
WHEREAS, In March 2006, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams completed flight
training and earned his naval flight officer wings; he was assigned to
fly the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Navy's elite fighter jet, and became
part of the Black Lions Squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceania; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams served in the Afghanistan thea-
tre aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, providing air support for U.S.
ground troops; and
WHEREAS, After returning from Afghanistan, this outstanding officer
was chosen to be a flight instructor at Lemoore Naval Air Station,
training other flight officers on the Super Hornet; he was also selected
for the West Coast Super Hornet Demonstration Team; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams was the recipient of the
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Star and two Presidential Air Medals;
and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams is survived by his wife, Mere-
dith, his parents, Alan and Gay Williams, and his brothers, Jeffrey and
Seth; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams leaves behind a legacy which
will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting
memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the untimely death of Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams, and to pay
tribute to his devoted service as a member of the United States Navy;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Lieutenant Nathan H. Williams.