Senate Bill S9729A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9729

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to Donald Roy McAnn

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To dedicate a Portion of the state highway system to be dedicated to
World War II veteran Donald Roy McAnn. The portion of state highway
constituting state route eight teen, known as Dewey Avenue in the town
of Greece, County of Monroe, beginning at its intersection with Stone
Road, continuing north till its intersection with Latta Road, shall be
dedicated to Donald Roy McAnn.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 outlines the portion of highway to be renamed. Section 2
outlines that the renaming is ceremonial, and that the commissioner of
transportation shall install and maintain the signage for the desig-
              

nation. Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

On October 26, 1942, during the battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in the
Pacific Theater, Donald Roy McAnn lost his life while selflessly and
courageously defending American freedom.

A lifelong resident of Greece, Donald Roy McAnn was born June 23, 1911.
He worked for years at Eastman Kodak Company prior to the war in the
Sensitive Paper Packing Department.

On August 16, 1932, McAnn enlisted in the Navy Reserves while working at
Kodak. He continued as a reservist until 1940 when he was called for
active military service. In the early months of the war, he was
stationed on the USS Enterprise as a Gunner's Mate First Class.

On October 26, 1942, McAnn's ship, the USS Enterprise was called into
battle against Japanese forces in the crucial battle over the Santa Cruz
Islands as part of the Guadalcanal Campaign.

During the battle, McAnn was tasked with taking photographs of enemy
forces for crucial intelligence purposes. While executing this duty in
an exposed position of the ship during the battle, he disregarded his
personal safety for a higher cause, and showed bravery beyond that of
many in a similar situation.

After taking these crucial photographs, McAnn helped render aid and
assistance to the ship's gun crew. While relieving one of the gunners,
McAnn was hit with a bomb shrapnel that had hit the ship. He was killed
in action. McAnn was buried at sea.  The photographs McAnn took in the
face of danger were found to be estential to US war efforts and provided
valuable intelligence against Japanese forces in the Pacific.

For his bravery and sacrifice in defense of the United States, McAnn was
awarded the Navy Cross posthumously. This honor is the highest award for
a naval officer, second only to the Medal of Honor.
In 1943, the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, ordered that a ship be
named after McAnn and invited his widow to sponsor and launch the
vessel. The USS McAnn, a Cannon-class Destroyer, served until 1944 as an
escort against submarine and air attacks on US vessels on the Coastal
United States and in the Caribbean. The ship in 1944 was decommissioned
from US service, sold to Brazil, and was used by the Brazilian military.
It is now a museum ship preserved by the Brazilian Navy's Cultural
Center in Rio de Janeiro.

McAnn was one of 32 Greece, New York residents to give their lives as
part of the US efforts to win World War II. His extraordinary acts of
sacrifice, courage, and selflessness serve as exceptional examples of
American patriotism and service towards a higher calling.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.