Senate Resolution No. 378

BY: Senator JORDAN

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        August  7, 2021, as Purple Heart Day in the State of
        New York

  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  moved to memorialize Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Saturday, August 7, 2021,  as  Purple  Heart
Day  in  the  State  of  New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Purple Heart Day; and

  WHEREAS, The Purple Heart Medal is the oldest military decoration in
the world in present use, 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; it was created by General George Washington
as a way to honor and thank the brave  soldiers  who  fought  under  his
command for the independence of our great Nation; and

  WHEREAS,  According  to  the  Military Order of the Purple Heart, an
organization for combat-wounded  veterans,  the  medal  is  "the  oldest
military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made
available to a common soldier"; and

  WHEREAS,  On  August  7, 1782, during the Revolutionary War, General
George Washington issued an order establishing a  badge  of  distinction
for  meritorious  action;  the badge, which consisted of a heart made of
purple cloth, is known to have been  awarded  to  three  sergeants  from
Connecticut regiments; and

  WHEREAS,  Known  as  the  Badge  of  Military  Merit,  the award was
distinctive because it was available to the lower ranks at a  time  when
only  officers  were  eligible  for  decoration  in  European armies; in
creating this appropriately exalted honor General Washington wrote  "The
road to glory in a patriot army is thus open to all."; and

  WHEREAS,  Although  not  continued  after the Revolutionary War, the
decoration was reinstated by the U.S. War Department, now the Department
of Defense, on February  22,  1932,  the  200th  anniversary  of  George
Washington's birth; and

  WHEREAS,  From  the  days of General George Washington, our nation's
military leaders have awarded the  Purple  Heart  in  the  name  of  the
President of the United States to honor almost two million Americans who
have been wounded in battle or killed in action; 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 August 7, 2021, as
Purple Heart Day in the State of New York; 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.