Senate Resolution No. 2103

BY: Senator ASHBY

COMMENDING Casey Frankoski posthumously 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, 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 esteemed Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Casey
Frankoski posthumously 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, Casey Frankoski of Rensselaer, New York, died on Friday,
March 8, 2024, at the age of 28; and

WHEREAS, While on a federal mission with the National Guard, Casey
Frankoski's helicopter crashed near the southern border of Texas where
she and other soldiers were assigned to a regiment that has been
operating as part of Joint Task Force North, a military unit which
supports U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations on the
southwestern border of the United States; 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 gave their
lives for their beloved Nation and to those who continue to be missing
in action; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Columbia High School and Schenectady County
Community College where she received a degree in social science, Casey
Frankoski was in pursuit of receiving a bachelor's degree in emergency
management at Excelsior College; she later enlisted in the New York Army
National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Casey Frankoski served in the New York Army National Guard
since 2016, and was appointed as Chief Warrant Officer in 2019 and
trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopter pilot;
she was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer 2 in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Casey Frankoski also deployed to Kuwait, from November of
2018 to September of 2019, with Detachment 5, Company C, 2nd Battalion,
245th Aviation Regiment; the unit flies the Army's C-12 transport
aircraft; and

WHEREAS, She was later deployed as a pilot to Texas with the
Detachment 2, Company A, 1st Battalion, 224 Aviation Regiment to patrol
the United States-Mexico border on October 11, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Her military awards include the Army Commendation Medal,
the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Service
Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the
Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Basic Aviator Badge, and the Basic
Aviation Badge; and

WHEREAS, At home, Casey Frankoski was previously a volunteer
firefighter at the Best Luther Fire Department, a member of the
Environmental Conservation Corp., and a current member of the American
Legion Gerald O'Neil Post 1683; and

WHEREAS, Having exhibited her patriotism both at home and abroad,
Casey Frankoski demonstrated her love for her country and merits
forevermore the highest respect of her 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 Casey Frankoski posthumously 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 the family of Casey Frankoski.