LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the 204th Engineer Battalion of Bing-
hamton, New York, upon the occasion of its selection as the Unit of the
Year for 2011 by SALUTE MAGAZINE

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's
freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace in peace-
time, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend those
who have served in times of active conflict, as well as those who have
served in times of peace; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the 204th
Engineer Battalion of Binghamton, New York, upon the occasion of its
selection as the Unit of the Year for 2011 by SALUTE MAGAZINE; and
WHEREAS, Binghamton's 204th Engineer Battalion was recognized as the
Unit of the Year for 2011 by SALUTE MAGAZINE, a military interest publi-
cation produced six times a year by Garden City, New Jersey company
Family Media; and
WHEREAS, Since 1985, SALUTE MAGAZINE has been distributed free on
military bases and installations; the magazine focuses on music, sports,
travel and dating for military singles and families; it also features a
Unit of the Month feature in which outstanding military units are recog-
nized for their service at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, The New York Army National Guard's 204th Engineer Battalion,
which includes the 1156th Engineer Company in Kingston, the 152nd Engi-
neer Company in Buffalo, the 827th Engineer Company in Horseheads and
Walton and Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the Forward Support
Company in Binghamton, was named Unit of the Month in the
October/November issue; and
WHEREAS, SALUTE MAGAZINE recognized the exceptional work the 204th
Engineer Battalion's Soldiers did in responding to the flooding in the
Catskills, the Adirondacks, and in Binghamton when Tropical Storms Irene
and Lee hit New York in August and September of 2011; and
WHEREAS, In the article announcing the selection of the 204th Engi-
neers, SALUTE MAGAZINE pointed out that the 1156th Engineer Company
rescued citizens in the Catskill Mountain village, Windham, from rising
flood waters, while the 827th Engineer Company cleared creeks that
threatened to flood local roads; and
WHEREAS; Other battalion members cleared Route 73 in the Adirondacks
to reopen the Keene Valley's access to the rest of the state and then
more than 300 members of the battalion responded when Binghamton was
flooded; and
WHEREAS, Although a number of the soldiers were personally impacted by
the flood, not one wished to stop the important job they were doing; and
WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended and
thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and for
their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the 204th Engineer Battalion of Binghamton, New York, upon the
occasion of its selection as the Unit of the Year for 2011 by SALUTE
MAGAZINE; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the 204th Engineer Battalion, Binghamton, New York.