Assembly Resolution No. 89

BY: M. of A. DenDekker

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
New York State as a Purple Heart State

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York,
who have served so valiantly and honorably in our nation's wars, as well
as in the preservation of peace in peacetime, deserve a special salute
from this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, Veterans have paid the high price of freedom by leaving
their families and communities and placing themselves in harm's way for
the good of all; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Purple Heart Medal is the oldest military
decoration in the world, and is awarded in the name of the President of
the United States to members of the United States military who have been
wounded or killed in action; and

WHEREAS, On August 7, 1782, during the American Revolution, General
George Washington issued an order establishing the Badge of Military
Merit to honor merit, particularly among the enlisted soldiers;
consisting of a heart made of purple cloth, the Badge of Military Merit
was distinctive because it was open only to enlisted men; and

WHEREAS, Although not continued after the American Revolution, the
Badge of Military Merit was later renamed the Purple Heart and
reinstated by the United States War Department, now the Department of
Defense, on February 22, 1932, the 200th anniversary of George
Washington's birth; and

WHEREAS, The Purple Heart has been awarded to nearly two million
Americans who have been wounded in battle or killed in action; and

WHEREAS, Many citizens of the State of New York have earned the
Purple Heart Medal as a result of having been wounded while engaged in
combat with an enemy force, which is recognized as a singularly
meritorious act of essential service; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated on August 6, 2004, the New York State Purple
Heart Memorial located in Albany, New York, honors New Yorkers who have
been awarded the Purple Heart Medal, the oldest military decoration in
the world; and

WHEREAS, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, located in New
Windsor, New York, was dedicated on November 10, 2006; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Defense announced a standard which allows
for a more standard way to evaluate a wounded individual for a Purple
Heart resulting from a "non-penetrating wound"; on February 6, 2015, the
Department also proclaimed that eligibility has been extended to those
wounded or killed by certain kinds of domestic terrorist activities; and

WHEREAS, As Americans, it is our responsibility to ensure that our
history is documented and reverence is given to our war heroes who
served this great Nation; and

WHEREAS, The freedoms and security we cherish as Americans come at a
very high price for those serving in the military; it is fitting and
proper that we, who are the beneficiaries of the courage of those who
risk their lives, leaving their families behind, express our
appreciation and eternal gratitude for their sacrifices and courageous
acts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim New York State as a
Purple Heart State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; Colonel Eric J. Hesse (Retired), Director of the New York
State Division of Veterans' Affairs; and Commander Scott Kyle, the
Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of New York.