Senate Resolution No. 2250

BY: Senator THOMAS

        COMMENDING  Ralph  Cavaliere  upon the occasion of
        his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
        highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
        York State Senate

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

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to commend Ralph
Cavaliere upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty
Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual  by  the  New  York
State Senate; and

  WHEREAS,  The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is  awarded  to  individuals  who  have  merited  special
commendation  for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, Born in Italy in November of 1925, Ralph Cavaliere came  to
the United States in November of 1928; and

  WHEREAS,  Ralph  Cavaliere proudly served his country as a member of
the United States Air Force from 1943 to 1945; stationed  in  Italy,  he
flew as a tail-gunner on B-24s in the Fifteenth Air Force with the 779th
Squadron of the 464th Bombardment Group near Cerignola; and

  WHEREAS,  After  five sorties and nine missions, Ralph Cavaliere and
his crew were transferred at the request of Colonel Monro MacCloskey who
needed someone who was well versed in the  Italian  language;  this  new
unit  was  the  885th  Bomb  Squadron, OSS, flying behind enemy lines to
supply partisan groups in Central Europe with  equipment,  currency  and
agents; and

  WHEREAS,  Subsequently,  the  partisans rose up en masse, shortening
the war with the German Army in an orderly retreat despite attacks  from
the  air,  ground  and within; Ralph Cavaliere and his squadron received
the Presidential Unit Citation for this great success; and

  WHEREAS, For his courageous service during  the  Second  World  War,
Ralph  Cavaliere  was  awarded  the  Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters,
EAME/MTO Theatre of Operations with 5 campaign stars, American  Campaign
Medal and the Good Conduct Medal; and

  WHEREAS,   With   a  steadfast  and  unwavering  commitment  to  his
community, Ralph Cavaliere has been a dedicated member of the Massapequa
American Legion Post No. 1066 for nearly 15 years; and

  WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at  home  and  abroad,
Ralph  Cavaliere  demonstrated  his  love  for  his  country  and merits
forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be  recognized,  commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend  Ralph  Cavaliere  upon  the  occasion  of  his  designation  as
recipient  of  a  Liberty  Medal,  the  highest  honor  bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Ralph Cavaliere.