Senate Resolution No. 5366

BY: Senator COMRIE

WELCOMING the members of the Veterans Advisory
Committee upon the occasion of their visit to
Albany, the Capital City of New York on June 12,
2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commend and
support the purposeful cause of the Vietnam Veterans of America,
recognizing its long and sustained commitment to the principles of
democracy and freedom so revered by this State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
welcome the members of the Veterans Advisory Committee upon the occasion
of their visit to Albany, the Capital City of New York on Tuesday, June
12, 2018; and

WHEREAS, The Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC) was formed on
September 30, 2016, to unify all of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFWs)
Posts, American Legions, American Veterans (AMVETS) and other
veteran-based non-profit organizations in Southeast Queens, New York, to
gauge the pulse of its veterans community and oversee the VA St. Albans
Community Living Center; and

WHEREAS, The members of the VAC includes: Chair, Retired Major
Sharon Sweeting Lindsey, Executive Director of Vets Inc. and Honor
House Veteran, Consultant to Hollis Gardens Veterans Residence and
co-Founder of Allen AME Veterans Committee; co-Chair, CSM Jackie Wilson,
Vice Commander of VFW Post 5298; Treasurer, Commander Leroy Barnes,
Commander of VFW Post 5298; Historian, Nathanial Walker, Eternal Light
Veterans Association; William McDonald, Commander of VFW Post 483;
Michael Cook, Veteran Entrepreneur; Lamar Gilmore, member of the Allen
AME Veterans Committee; Steve Epps, member and representative from
Benjamin Moore Post 1946; Willie Burke, Commander Proctor Hopson Post
1896; Emery Perry, Past Commander, AMVETS No. 1013 and State
Representative; Elizabeth Willis, Women Veteran Outreach Ministry;
Bernadette Wynn, Executive Director, Vets Housing Vets; and Anthony
Black, Executive Director, Vets for Vets EZ; and

WHEREAS, The VA St. Albans Community Living Center provides primary
care and offers specialized geriatric programs and restorative
rehabilitation; geriatric programs provide comprehensive evaluation and
safe, effective management of elderly cognitively impaired veterans; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the VA St. Albans Community Living Center's
Adult Day Health Care Program and Home Based Primary Care Program care
for physically disabled, medically-complicated elderly veterans who are
at risk of nursing home placement or recurrent hospitalization, and
offer a comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation Domiciliary program,
providing incentive therapy, vocational counseling and independent
living skills training for patients seeking to return to independent
living; and

WHEREAS, The facility provides inpatient extended care services
including skilled nursing, IV antibiotic therapy, palliative care and
respite care, as well as sub-acute restorative rehabilitation for the
elderly; the Campus hosts an Ambulatory Care Center which provides
primary care and specialty care, including optometry, podiatry,
audiology and dental services; and

WHEREAS, The Campus also includes VA Adult Day Health Care and Home
Based Primary Care programs, providing outpatient geriatric care, and a
Homeless Domiciliary emphasizing pre-vocational and comprehensive
psychosocial rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, the VAC has initiated a variety of
programs including the Leave No Veteran Behind Project which sends food,
clothing and sundry items to veterans who live in Haiti after the
devastating earthquake in 2010; and

WHEREAS, The VAC presented Black Military History Month programs in
both February of 2017 and 2018; the committee wrote and was awarded a
grant to expand this informative program, bringing its message to
schools and to a larger community audience; and

WHEREAS, The VAC also supported the Annual Pantry in the Park Event
held in May of 2016, 2017, and 2018 in St. Albans Park; this annual
event provides food baskets, complete with health care provider
information, to over 1,000 veteran families; and

WHEREAS, In March of 2017 and 2018, the VAC hosted The Feeding of
the 2,000; during this important event, children who live in shelters
were fed warm and nutritious meals at the Universal Circus; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, three member agencies, VFW Post 483 and 5298,
and Vets Inc./Honor House, have established food pantries for veterans
in need; and

WHEREAS, The dedication and sacrifices of our military personnel
ensure our continued role as a Nation which embodies the ideals of
democracy, and is a defender of liberty for peoples throughout the
world; 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 their patriotism both at home and abroad,
these men and women demonstrated their love for their country and merit
forevermore, the highest respect of their State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is privileged to extend a warm
welcome to this extraordinary group of advocates on behalf of New York's
Veterans and their families; we further hope they will return in the
future to visit their new friends and colleagues in Albany, New York;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
welcome the members of the Veterans Advisory Committee upon the occasion

of their visit to Albany, the Capital City of New York on June 12, 2018;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the members of Veterans Advisory Committee.