Senate Resolution No. 1344

BY: Senator SANDERS

COMMENDING Major Sharon Sweeting Lindsey upon the
occasion of her designation as recipient of a
Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of individuals such as Major Sharon Sweeting Lindsey who
uphold the values of community life and who, through their great
actions, epitomize the best of humanity; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Major
Sharon Sweeting Lindsey upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey is a magna cum laude graduate of
Brooklyn College, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Education,
a Master's degree in Nutrition and an advanced degree in Supervision and
Administration; and

WHEREAS, A registered, certified and licensed dietitian in New York
and Texas, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey has been an adjunct professor at
LaGuardia Community College for the past 32 years; furthermore, for 10
years, she was an Administrative Director of the NYS Department of
Education where she monitored the NYC Board of Education private and
parochial schools' feeding program; and

WHEREAS, A truly remarkable woman, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey enlisted
in the United States Army Reserve as Food Service Specialist, retiring
at the esteemed rank of Major after 26 years of dedicated service to her
country; and

WHEREAS, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey became the Deputy Executive
Director for Nutritional Services at the New York City Department of
Corrections, where she oversaw the feeding of 20,000 men and women and
10,000 officers and civilians; she retired in 2004; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to helping those
in need, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey founded Taurus Associates Inc., a food
service consultant organization; in 2008, she initiated the J-CAPS Vets,
and two years later she founded Vets Inc., during which time she was
named Queens New Yorker of the Week; and

WHEREAS, That same year, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey also founded Honor
House, a 10-bed residential facility for Veterans, as well as a pantry
and soup kitchen, a NYC official SNAP enrollment site and NYC DOH Blood
Pressure monitoring location; and

WHEREAS, In 2013, the food pantry was expanded to the Locust Manor
Senior Citizen Residence and Vets Inc. was awarded a state contract at
Reality House, a veteran's residential facility; under the able
leadership of Sharon Sweeting Lindsey, this vital organization soon grew
to include pantries at American Legion Post No. 483 and VFW Post No.
5298; and

WHEREAS, A true asset to her community, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey is
proud to provide food services to countless families each week at five
locations, as well as employment for 20 persons and certified community
service opportunities for 20 youths; and

WHEREAS, As founder of the Annual Pantry in the Park event, Sharon
Sweeting Lindsey has distributed more than 1,000 food packages to the
community and in 2017, she fed over 2,000 children at the Universoul
Circus; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey was elected as Vice
Commander of the American Legion Post No. 483 and Chair of the Women's
Auxiliary; additionally, she was elected to the Chairmanship of the
Senator Leroy Comrie Veterans Committee; she is also a member of MILEVA
and the NABMW; and

WHEREAS, In 2021, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey was selected as Chairman
of the QBP Veteran and Seniors Committee; she was also sworn into the
Queens District Attorney Veterans Committee and inducted into membership
of Community Board 12; and

WHEREAS, A woman of great faith, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey is a
37-year member of Allen AME Cathedral where she is active in the
Security Ministry, and co-founder of Veteran Sunday, an annual event in
which the Veterans from New York and New Jersey come together to worship
and celebrate their Veteran heritage; and

WHEREAS, The proud recipient of numerous governmental and
community-based awards and accolades, Sharon Sweeting Lindsey was
inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame in 2011; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her daughter, the late Crystal Arnetta, with
her throughout have been her sons, Mitchell Darnell and James Masada, as
well as 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom feel
privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her many
achievements; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Sharon Sweeting Lindsey has
displayed throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Major Sharon Sweeting Lindsey upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Major Sharon Sweeting Lindsey.