Bill Text: NY J02214 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7, 2024, as 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-21)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-09 - ADOPTED [J02214 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J02214-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2214

BY: Senator SCARCELLA-SPANTON

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 7, 2024, as 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum
        Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum is located in Jefferson County, in  Northern  New
York,  and  is  the  largest  military  installation in the Northeastern
United States; and

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum, previously known as Pine Camp,  was  renamed  in
honor of Lieutenant General Hugh Drum, a decorated national hero, former
commander  of  First  Army,  and  an  early  leader  of  the State's own
volunteer militia, the New York Guard; and

  WHEREAS, For more than three decades, Fort Drum has been the home of
the United States Army's storied 10th Mountain Division, one of the most
deployed divisions in the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS, Members of the  10th  Mountain  Division  have  served  our
nation  with  honor,  distinction,  and  great  sacrifice  as  a part of
Operation Enduring Freedom and other actions  central  to  our  nation's
response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

  WHEREAS, Elements of the 10th Mountain Division, based on Fort Drum,
were  the first to be deployed in the aftermath of those attacks and the
last units to return from combat duty; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to  Operation  Enduring  Freedom,  the  10th
Mountain  Division  deployments have included Hurricane Andrew Relief in
Florida, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation  Uphold  Democracy
in Haiti, Task Force Eagle in Kosovo, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
Freedom  Sentinel  in  Afghanistan,  and  advise  and  assist operations
throughout the World; and

  WHEREAS, More than 300 brave men and  women  of  the  10th  Mountain
Division  have  given  their  lives  to  the  cause  of defeating global
terrorism; and

  WHEREAS, Distinguished service of units assigned to Fort  Drum  have
been  celebrated  by Presidents, members of Congress, and members of the
international community; and

  WHEREAS, Four  heroes  serving  with  the  10th  Mountain  Division,
Private  First  Class  John  D.  Magrath,  Sergeant First Class Jared C.
Monti, Captain William D. Swenson, and Staff Sergeant Travis  W.  Atkins
have received our military's highest honor, the Medal of Honor; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to its vital role in our nation's defense, Fort
Drum  is  also  the  largest  employer in Northern New York, the State's
largest single-site employer, and an economic engine for the  State  and
region; the Fort has a total impact of $1.9 billion; and

  WHEREAS,  A  special  bond exists between Fort Drum and the civilian
communities surrounding it; the 33,000 soldiers and  family  members  of

the  installation are an integral part of the North Country who not only
are considered  defenders  of  our  freedom,  but  also  our  neighbors,
co-workers, classmates, friends, and fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of this Legislative Body to salute the
soldiers and officers of the 10th  Mountain  Division,  to  honor  their
dedication  to  preserving  our freedom and our nation, and to recognize
their individual and collective contributions to our communities and  to
New York State; and

  WHEREAS, For the past ten years, the 10th Mountain Division and Fort
Drum  Day  has  served to educate members of this Legislative Body about
the sacrifices made every day by the brave men and women  of  our  Armed
Forces,  as  well as the importance of Fort Drum to our nation's defense
and New York's economy; and

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum has and will continue to play a critical role  in
ensuring  our nation's military readiness to defend our state and nation
against hostility and threats to our safety and national security;  now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to  proclaim  May  7,  2024,  as  10th
Mountain  Division and Fort Drum Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to Major General Gregory Anderson, Commanding General, 10th
Mountain Division, and Fort Drum.