LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Shirley Fein Sheriff upon the occasion
of her designation as a recipient of the Services to Armed Forces Legacy
Award by the American Red Cross

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend and support
the purposeful cause of the American Red Cross, recognizing its long and
sustained commitment to the principles of democracy and freedom so
revered by this State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Shirley Fein
Sheriff upon the occasion of her designation as a recipient of the
Services to Armed Forces Legacy Award by the American Red Cross on
Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Red Cross legacy of service to the members of the mili-
tary began with Clara Barton providing comfort on the battlefields of
the Civil War; since then, American Red Cross staff have served in every
major military combat or conflict operation around the world, and also
have served as ambulance drivers, nurses, field directors, canteen,
hospital, recreation workers, and station managers; they are among a
select group who have proudly worn the Red Cross emblem to provide care
and comfort to the members of the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff was born in December of 1917, one of
eight children she went to college at the age of 16 and worked in a
pediatric hospital and then for the Brooklyn Navy Yard; she was then
asked to work at the Anaconda Wire & Cable Factory in Yonkers and then
in Hastings working to provide materials used to protect the naval
ships; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff was a young adult in her 20s, when World
War II was declared; as a young child, she had been exposed to volun-
teering as her mother was a volunteer, and Shirley felt that it was
important that she volunteered as well; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff knew friends who had volunteered for the
Women's Army Corps, but also had a friend who had volunteered for the
Red Cross; Shirley felt that her background would be better suited for
the Red Cross and applied to become a Red Cross volunteer; and
WHEREAS, Having no fear of serving overseas, Shirley Fein Sheriff was
selected for service and deployed to the European Theater where she was
stationed in Paris, Garches and then finally Hamburg, Germany; her
recollection of her travels on the ships were that the waters were very
dangerous; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff's first assignment was in Paris, France,
and she remembers it being very dark and dreary; she was assigned to a
triage hospital and worked with many prisoners of war with her main
responsibility being the care and comfort of the wounded; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff served in many capacities, including
hospital volunteer, staff aid, and recreational volunteer; she was also
a guide leader for the GI's during their time in Paris; and
WHEREAS, During VE (Victory in Europe) Day, on May 8, 1945, Shirley
Fein Sheriff was in Paris; she then asked for an assignment to Germany
and became a club recreation worker in Amburg, Germany; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff and her group of volunteers were
assigned to set up a former monastery as a club; she and her group
worked 12 hours a day setting up the club and transporting the GI's to
Nuremberg for their supplies with Shirley becoming a driver for those
trips; and
WHEREAS, Shirley Fein Sheriff recalls Germany being very dangerous, as
everyone carried a gun, but she does not remember fear; Shirley simply
recalls her greater purpose was there to serve others; and

WHEREAS, Through the volunteer efforts of many extraordinary volun-
teers like Shirley Fein Sheriff, the American Red Cross provided essen-
tial support and relief to sick and wounded combatants as well as pris-
oners of war; it provided morale for all affected by the war; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Shirley Fein Sheriff's distinguished
record merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative
Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Shirley Fein Sheriff upon the occasion of her designation as a
recipient of the Services to Armed Forces Legacy Award by the American
Red Cross; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Shirley Fein Sheriff.