Bill Text: NY J00671 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Congratulating World War II veteran John Harrison of Laurel, New York, upon the occasion of celebrating his 100th Birthday

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-04-27 - ADOPTED [J00671 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00671-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 671

BY: Senator PALUMBO

        CONGRATULATING  World War II veteran John Harrison
        of  Laurel,  New  York,   upon   the   occasion   of
        celebrating his 100th Birthday, on April 29, 2021

  WHEREAS,  Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge
to the increasingly active roles they play  in  today's  society;  their
past  contributions  and  future  participation are a vital part of, and
valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative  Body  to  commemorate
and  recognize  certain  milestones celebrated by citizens of this great
Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
congratulate World War II veteran John Harrison  of  Laurel,  New  York,
upon the occasion of celebrating his 100th Birthday; and

  WHEREAS,  John Harrison was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 29,
1921; his father was Irish born and worked as a  trolley  conductor  and
bus driver in Brooklyn; and

  WHEREAS, Young John Harrison was part of the first generation of his
family  to  be  born  in  Brooklyn; he attended Bushwick High School and
later Pace University; since he  was  adept  at  foreign  languages,  he
dreamed of working as a linguist; and

  WHEREAS,  Worrying  about  his "dumb Irish luck," he enlisted in the
United States Navy, knowing, if he didn't, he would  have  been  drafted
into the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS,  John  Harrison  served  in  New York City, Connecticut and
other places before being shipped to San Diego and from there across the
Pacific in a large convoy  to  engage  the  enemy;  fighting  was  still
underway  on  Iwo Jima when his ship arrived; he believes he was off the
island for seven or eight months; and

  WHEREAS, Out of all the chapters in John Harrison's long  life,  the
most  dramatic  ones  were  the  two  months he spent on that U. S. Navy
vessel during the battle over the island of Iwo  Jima  in  February  and
March  of  1945, and the subsequent air attacks on the Japanese mainland
by American planes; his ship's mission was  to  rescue  downed  American
pilots who left the island each day to bomb targets in Japan; and

  WHEREAS,  John Harrison recalls being on the ship one morning when a
fellow sailor called out "Hey, did you hear the war is over? We  dropped
a big bomb on Japan."; and

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

  WHEREAS, By early December of 1945, John Harrison was safely back in
Brooklyn  with  his beautiful wife, Marion, whom he had married in 1943;
and

  WHEREAS,  After  his  noble  service  to  his country, John Harrison
became an accountant in a New York City advertising agency; in total, he
spent 35 years in advertising before retiring in the mid-1980s;  he  and
his  wife  had  purchased a home in Laurel, New York, in the late 1950s,
the home he still resides in today; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to his wife of 78 years, the late Marion,  with
him  throughout  have  been  his  two  sons,  John  (Barbara) and Daniel
(Allison),   as   well   as   his    two    grandchildren    and    four
great-grandchildren,  all  of  whom  feel privileged to be a part of his
life and rejoice in his achievements; and

  WHEREAS, With his zest for life, this extraordinary centenarian  has
inspired  and  enhanced  the  lives  of  his family and friends, and has
experienced the  incredible  joys  and  sorrows  characteristic  of  and
reserved  for  those  with the stamina and courage to savor a full life;
and

  WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this Legislative  Body  to  publicly
recognize  those  who  have  reached  such a remarkable age and who have
witnessed and celebrated  the  innovations,  cultural  developments  and
awesome  achievements  of  this  country  during the last century, while
themselves contributing to the  growth  and  excellence  of  this  great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate World War II veteran John Harrison  of  Laurel,  New  York,
upon the occasion of celebrating his 100th Birthday; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to John Harrison.