Assembly Resolution No. 251
BY: M. of A. O'Pharrow
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 25, 2025, as Medal of Honor Day in the State
of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Medal of Honor Day
WHEREAS, Throughout our Nation's history, the men and women of
America's Armed Forces have preserved our freedom, protected our
security, and upheld our democratic values; and
WHEREAS, From the battles of the American Revolution through the
crucible of two world wars to the war on terrorism today, our men and
women in uniform have stood proudly in defense of the United States and
in the cause of liberty; and
WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious
military decoration in the United States; it is awarded by the President
of the United States, in the name of Congress, "to members of the armed
forces who have distinguished themselves conspicuously by their
gallantry and intrepidity at the rick of their lives above and beyond
the call of duty"; and
WHEREAS, There are three distinct versions of the Medal of Honor;
the United States Navy introduced its version in 1861, which is awarded
to members of the United States Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast
Guard; the United States Army introduced its version in 1862, and the
United States Air Force introduced its version in 1965; prior to 1965,
members of the Air Force received the United States Army version of the
Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, The Nation will forever be in debt to the recipients of the
Medal of Honor for their bravery and sacrifice in times of war or armed
conflict; and
WHEREAS, National Medal of Honor Day was established by the United
States Congress when President George H. Bush signed Public Law 101-564
into law, to foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of
Honor recipients; it was first celebrated on March 25, 1991; and
WHEREAS, March 25th was chosen because it was on that day in 1863
that the first Medals of Honor were presented by the Secretary of War to
six members of Andrews' Raiders during the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, To its recipients, the Medal of Honor represents more than
recognition of combat actions, it symbolizes the sacrifices of those
they served alongside and those who came before; and
WHEREAS, In honor of those sacrifices, each year on National Medal
of Honor Day, the recipients lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery; all four Unknown Soldiers have
been presented a Medal of Honor in recognition of their sacrifice and
the sacrifice of all who serve the country; and
WHEREAS, There have been 3,545 total number of Medal of Honor Medals
awarded; there are currently sixty-one living recipients; and
WHEREAS, Those serving in the Civil War represent the largest number
of those who earned the Medal of Honor, and as a result, New York State
is the home of 672 recipients; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, two Medals of Honor were awarded posthumously to a
Marine and a Navy SEAL from the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps. of
Scio, New York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on January
11, 2007, for his heroic action on April 14, 2004, in Karabilah, Iraq;
and
WHEREAS, Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy of Patchogue, New
York, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on October 22, 2007;
and
WHEREAS, The first United States Navy SEAL since the Vietnam War to
be awarded the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Murphy is the third recipient
since troops were sent to Afghanistan in 2001; and
WHEREAS, Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch, from
Rochester, New York, passed away on December 26, 2021, at the age of 74;
he was presented the Medal of Honor by President Nixon on October 15,
1973, for conspicuous gallantry in action at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, The National Headquarters and Museum for the Congressional
Medal of Honor Society is located aboard the aircraft carrier USS
Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant,
South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, On December 27, 2021, President Biden signed into law
legislation establishing the Medal of Honor Monument to recognize the
Medal of Honor; the monument will be located in Washington, D.C. and
will complement the future National Medal of Honor Museum to be located
in Arlington, Texas; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to honor the heroic recipients of the
Medal of Honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 25, 2025, as Medal
of Honor Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Medal of Honor Day, and to urge all citizens of
the State of New York to display the Nation's flag on that date to honor
all recipients of the Medal of Honor; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York; and the National Headquarters and Museum for the Congressional
Medal of Honor.
