Assembly Resolution No. 674

BY: M. of A. Zebrowski

COMMENDING Jerry Donnellan upon the occasion of
his retirement after 30 years of distinguished
service to Rockland County's Veterans Service Agency

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Jerry Donnellan upon the occasion of his retirement after 30
years of distinguished service to Rockland County's Veterans Service
Agency; and

WHEREAS, Born in 1946, Jerry Donnellan has been a lifelong Rockland
County resident; he grew up along the Hudson River in the Town of Nyack
before the first Tappan Zee Bridge was built; after graduating from
Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, New York, he attended Rockland
Community College before transferring to Texas A&M University; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, Jerry Donnellan was drafted into the United States
Army, where he proudly served his country during the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, On October 24, 1969, Sergeant Jerry Donnellan was wounded
while on patrol with the 196th Light Infantry in Vietnam's central
highlands; he was shot twice and hit with a grenade, leaving countless
pieces of shrapnel in his body; and

WHEREAS, After his honorable discharge, Jerry Donnellan spent more
than a year recovering and undergoing rehabilitation after his many
grievous injuries; during this time, he worked as a stage manager with
Frank Sinatra and got to travel all over the world; for his courageous
service, he was awarded multiple Purple Heart Medals; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Donnellan joined the staff of Rockland County's
Veterans Service Agency; as its Director, he has seen the county's
veteran population change predominantly from those who served in World
War II, to Korea and Vietnam, and now the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; and

WHEREAS, At the beginning of Jerry Donnellan's tenure, the Veterans
Service Agency consisted of 30,000 World War II veterans; today, there
are almost 10,000 members; and

WHEREAS, In his role as Director, Jerry Donnellan was instrumental
in establishing several programs for local veterans such as the Memorial
Day Watchfires and a veterans health clinic; he also helped to raise
awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder, and opened the first
homeless shelter for veterans in Valley Cottage (Missing In America),
which has since closed and has been transferred to Homes for Heroes in
Tappan; and

WHEREAS, After more than three decades of distinguished service to
the veterans of Rockland County, Jerry Donnellan will officially retire
in December of 2017; and

WHEREAS, For the past 30 years, Jerry Donnellan rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to Rockland County's Veterans Service
Agency; and

WHEREAS, In his official acts, Jerry Donnellan was governed by a
keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems;
and

WHEREAS, During his tenure with Rockland County's Veterans Service
Agency, Jerry Donnellan earned the admiration, esteem and affection of
his colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Jerry Donnellan upon the occasion of his retirement after 30
years of distinguished service to Rockland County's Veterans Service
Agency, and to wish him continued success in all his future endeavors;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jerry Donnellan.