Bill Text: NY J02736 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending Technician Fourth Grade Joseph S. Cesternino posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-10-28 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J02736 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J02736-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2736

BY: Senator HINCHEY

        COMMENDING   Technician  Fourth  Grade  Joseph  S.
        Cesternino posthumously 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 Technician
Fourth  Grade Joseph S. Cesternino posthumously 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, to be celebrated at the
Columbia  County  Honor a Veteran Ceremony on Monday, November 25, 2024,
at the Columbia County office building in Hudson, New York; 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,  Joseph  S.  Cesternino  was  born on November 23, 1925, to
Anthony and Jenny (Giavonni Giffo) Cesternino in Hudson, New York, where
he grew up and attended Hudson High School before working as a  shipping
clerk; and

  WHEREAS,  Joseph S. Cesternino proudly enlisted in the United States
Army on March 8, 1944; and

  WHEREAS, After completing basic training at Camp  Stewart,  Georgia,
where  he  qualified  with  the 30-caliber machine gun and the M1 rifle,
Technician Fourth Grade Joseph S. Cesternino was assigned to  the  455th
Anti-Aircraft  Artillery  Automatic  Weapons  Battalion  in the European
Theater of Operation on January 16, 1945; and

  WHEREAS,  During  this  time,  Technician  Fourth  Grade  Joseph  S.
Cesternino  served  as  a dispatch clerk along with other duties; he and
his unit landed in Normandy and raced  across  France  and  Germany  for
months until May of 1945; and

  WHEREAS,  The  455th  AAA  Automatic  Weapons Battalion was issued a
Letter of Commendation by General George S. Patton for  their  exemplary
service  in  helping  to defeat the Nazi regime; Technician Fourth Grade
Joseph S.  Cesternino was honorably discharged on May 16, 1946, at  Fort
Dix, New Jersey; and

  WHEREAS,  For his courageous service during World War II, Technician
Fourth Grade Joseph S. Cesternino was awarded the EAME  Campaign  Medal,
Good Conduct Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  returning  home, Joseph S. Cesternino and the former
Elizabeth Coons were united in marriage; and

  WHEREAS,  Joseph S. Cesternino worked for the Atlas Cement Co., then
the  Sutterley  Brick  Co.,  and  was  the  foreman  for  the  Laborer's
International  Union  in  Albany,  before  starting  his  own  business,
Cesternino Construction Co., with his two  sons;  he  retired  after  20
years; and

  WHEREAS;  Predeceased  by  his  wife,  Joseph  S.  Cesternino  died on
September 10, 2020, and was buried  in  West  Ghent  Cemetery;  he  left
behind   two   sons,   Gary   and   Joseph,  six  grandchildren  and  13
great-grandchildren; he was 94 years old; 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 risked their
lives for their beloved Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at  home  and  abroad,
Technician  Fourth  Grade Joseph S. Cesternino 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  Technician  Fourth Grade Joseph S. Cesternino posthumously 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  the  family  of  Technician  Fourth  Grade  Joseph  S.
Cesternino.