Senate Resolution No. 2392

BY: Senator GOLDEN

HONORING Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
upon the occasion of his designation as Grand
Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial
Day Parade

WHEREAS, Each and every city, town, village and hamlet within its
borders resonates with the rich and noble history of New York State and
this nation; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend events which symbolize the historical, social and cultural
development of this great State and embody the spirit of the principles
upon which this nation was founded, and to applaud individuals who have
dedicated their life's work in support and furtherance of those
principles; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. upon the occasion of his
designation as Grand Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial
Day Parade; and

WHEREAS, On Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday of
the month of May, we honor those Americans who gave their lives in
defense of their country, whether in the Civil War which divided our
nation or in times of war since that time, and in times of peace, in
police actions and minor skirmishes, in peacekeeping roles and in
missions to foreign lands to uphold the cherished principles of liberty
and democracy upon which our grand Republic was founded; and

WHEREAS, A fitting choice for Grand Marshal of the Kings County
Memorial Day Parade, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. proudly
served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps for 40
years; he began his distinguished career as an Infantry Officer with 1st
Battalion, 9th Marines in Okinawa and culminating as the Commanding
General for the Marine Corps Forces Pacific, a diverse organization of
83,000 postured to respond immediately to any crisis across the
Asia-Pacific region; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.'s second assignment
came as a three year tour at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot San Diego
California, where he met his bride of 37 years, Helen; he was
subsequently re-assigned as a Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 7th
Marines; and

WHEREAS, From 1984-1987, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
served as the Marine Officer Instructor at the University of
Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. transferred to the
II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune as the Staff Secretary; he
then served the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion as Operations

Officer and Executive Officer from 1987-1991; in this capacity, he had a
vital role in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM; and

WHEREAS, From 1981-1994, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
worked with Manpower Officer Assignments; he was then selected for
command of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (also known as
Wolfpack), in Twentynine Palms from 1994-1997; and

WHEREAS, Following battalion command, Lieutenant General John A.
Toolan, Jr. attended Air Force War College in Montgomery, Alabama, and
was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Joint Planning Officer at
Supreme Allied Headquarters, in Mons, Belgium, where Operation ALLIED
FORCE in support of Bosnia and Kosovo consumed his attention during his
European tour; and

WHEREAS, From 2000-2002, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
commanded Weapons and Field Training Battalion in Camp Pendleton; he
then joined the 1st Marine Division as the Operations Officer for
deployment on Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; and

WHEREAS, In March of 2003, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
took command of Regimental Combat Team 1, leading his team in the march
to Baghdad; and

WHEREAS, One year later, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.'s
combat team returned to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, for Operation IRAQI
FREEDOM II in 2004; following regimental command, he was assigned as the
Director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico,
Virginia; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
in 2006, and was assigned as the Principal Director for Asia/Pacific
Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in
Washington, DC; and

WHEREAS, From 2008-2010, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
served as Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan; in 2009, he was
promoted to Major General; and

WHEREAS, In July of 2010, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. was
assigned as Commander of the 2D Marine Division; in March of 2011, he
deployed as the Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force
(Forward) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in the role of Commander,
Regional Command (South West) until March of 2012; and

WHEREAS, In September of 2012, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan,
Jr. was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of the I
Marine Expeditionary Force; in August of 2014, he assumed command of
Marine Forces, Pacific; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2016, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.
retired from the military, after 40 years of honorable and highly
accomplished service; and

WHEREAS, As we observe and remember our deceased veterans on
Memorial Day, we recall their brave and noble deeds which have served to
maintain our most precious and cherished freedoms and honor those who

continue to work diligently to support and sustain them; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. upon the occasion of his
designation as Grand Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial
Day Parade; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.