Senate Resolution No. 2368

BY: Senator STEC

COMMENDING Corporal Milton B. Baker 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 Corporal
Milton B. Baker 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, Milton B. Baker, who is currently 96 years old, grew up in
Stillwater, New York and attended Stillwater Public Schools, however he
left school after completing 10th grade in 1946, to work to help support
his family; and

WHEREAS, After enlisting in the U.S. Army, Milton B. Baker was
deployed to the Korean Peninsula where his unit fought in the vicinity
of Old Baldy and Pork Chop Hill from 1952-1953; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Milton B. Baker was a member of Abel Company, 23rd
Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division and served in the Korean War from April
1,1951 to February 2,1953, and was honorably discharged in 1953; and

WHEREAS, In November of 1952, Corporal Milton B. Baker, while
fighting at Old Baldy, was pictured on the cover of New York Times
Magazine and in Newsweek Magazine carrying a wounded soldier down a
portion of Old Baldy; and

WHEREAS, For his courageous service during the Korean War, Milton B.
Baker was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service
Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal,
and the New York State Medal for Merit and the Korean War Commemorative
Medal from the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs;
he also received the Korean War Ambassador For Peace Medal from the
Republic of Korea (South Korea) for his Korean War service on behalf of
the South Korean people; and

WHEREAS, After he returned home, Milton B. Baker worked for
Plumber's Union 288 out of Saratoga, and later transferred to Local
Plumber's Union 773, which did plumbing projects from Stillwater to the
Canadian border; among the notable projects he worked on were the paper
plant in Glens Falls, New York and the Olympic Village in Lake Placid,
New York; and


WHEREAS, Milton B. Baker retired from the Plumber's Union in 1997,
and moved from Stillwater to Willsboro, New York where he currently
resides; and

WHEREAS, Milton B. Baker is a lifetime member of VFW Post 420 in
Saratoga, New York and VFW Post 405 in Willsboro; he is a lifetime
member of American Legion Posts in both Saratoga and Willsboro, where he
participated in many civic activities; and

WHEREAS, Selected in 2025 and 2026 to be the Grand Marshall in the
Memorial Day Parade in Willsboro, Milton B. Baker, in April of 2026,
received his high school diploma from the Stillwater School District
under Operation Recognition guidelines; 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, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Milton B. Baker 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 Corporal Milton B. Baker upon the occasion of 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 Milton B. Baker.