Senate Resolution No. 2349

BY: Senator MYRIE

COMMENDING Osceala Fletcher upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate

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 peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Osceala
Fletcher upon the occasion of his 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, Osceala "Ossie" Fletcher's blood ran red like the rest of
the American casualties on the beaches of Normandy nearly 80 years ago,
but the color of his skin led to the denial of what others who survived
the D-Day battle received, a Purple Heart; and

WHEREAS, The World War II hero from Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at age
99, finally received his Purple Heart at a special ceremony at Fort
Hamilton Army Base in Brooklyn on Friday, June 18, 2021, a day before
the first federally-recognized Juneteenth national holiday that ended
slavery of African Americans after the Civil War; and

WHEREAS, Osceala Fletcher attended the ceremony with his wife
Pauline, his daughter Jacqueline Streets, a dozen family members and one
great grandson; the wheelchair-bound Army veteran, a crane operator in
the 254th Port Battalion, was wounded three times, most notably during a
German rocket attack; and

WHEREAS, The former private first class collected his medal from
U.S. Army Chief of Staff General James McConville during the emotional
ceremony, a long overdue recognition of the enormous sacrifices this
brave man made for our nation and for free people everywhere; despite
his inability to walk on his own, the nearly 100-year-old veteran
insisted on standing during the ceremony's National Anthem; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, among those in attendance was Helen Patton,
granddaughter of General George Patton; Henry Roosevelt, grandson of
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who also produced a film about the
survivors of D-Day entitled "6th of June", and members of the Comus Club
of Brooklyn, a Black fraternal organization from Brooklyn; and

WHEREAS, During his valiant military service, Osceala Fletcher
sailed to Europe from Portsmouth, Virginia aboard a segregated ship
where Blacks were forced to stay below deck as they departed for the

war; however, bullets made no racial distinction as 425,000 American
soldiers were killed or wounded in 12 weeks of fighting the Nazi war
machine; and

WHEREAS, Osceala Fletcher, who has spent his entire life giving to
others, also served as a sergeant in the NYPD during his post-war years
before retiring and becoming a social studies teacher in New York City
public schools, as well as a community relations officer in the Brooklyn
District Attorney's office; and

WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which these men and women served their country, and must recognize
that no greater debt is owed than that owed to those who risked their
lives for their beloved Nation; and

WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Osceala Fletcher demonstrated his love for his country and merits
forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; 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 Osceala Fletcher upon the occasion of his 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 Osceala Fletcher.