Bill Text: NY J00738 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 738 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 8, 2019, as USS Liberty Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-15 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00738 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00738-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 738

BY: Senator HELMING

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June 8, 2019, as USS Liberty 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, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 8, 2019, as USS Liberty Day in
the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  On  June  8,  1967,  the  USS Liberty and her crew of 294,
including three civilians, was operating in international waters; and

  WHEREAS, In an unprovoked attack by Israeli war planes  and  torpedo
boats resulted in the death of 34 Americans including five from New York
and the wounding of 174 others; and

  WHEREAS, After sending out distress calls stating the ship was under
attack  and  required  immediate  assistance,  the  attack continued for
approximately 22 minutes involving 30 to 35 sorties; following  the  air
attack,  three  Israeli motor torpedo boats fired five torpedoes, one of
which struck USS Liberty on the starboard side resulting in  the  deaths
of 25 of the 34 men killed; and

  WHEREAS,  The  crew  of the USS Liberty fought valiantly to overcome
the battle damage that included severe structural damage, and save their
ship, often placing themselves  in  extremely  hazardous  situations  in
total  disregard  for  their personal safety finally succeeding to reach
port; and

  WHEREAS, Due to the sensitive nature of the USS Liberty's  equipment
and  documents,  crew  members  were still reeling from the attack, with
some who suffered wounds during the attack were tasked with entering the
severely damaged area and recovering the bodies and body parts of  their
fellow shipmates; and

  WHEREAS, Having suffered through the attack and subsequent recovery,
the   crew  was  informed  that  under  penalty  of  arrest,  fines  and
imprisonment, they were forbidden to  speak  about  the  incident  which
further compounded the effects of post-traumatic stress; and

  WHEREAS,  Because  of unsupported statements by some U.S. government
officials that the attack was accidental, the USS Liberty survivors have
been vilified in some quarters for over 50 years because they refuse  to
be part of the government's cover-up; and

  WHEREAS,  The  USS  Liberty  is  the  most decorated Navy ship for a
single engagement; to wit, Captain William McGonagle received the  Medal
of  Honor,  and  the  crew  received 2 Navy Crosses; 12 Silver Stars; 26

Bronze Stars; 208 Purple Hearts; 9 Navy Commendation Medals; the  Combat
Action Ribbon; the Presidential Unit Citation; and more; and

  WHEREAS,  At  its  national  convention in 2017, the American Legion
adopted Resolution 40  calling  upon  the  United  States  Congress  "to
publicly,  impartially, and thoroughly investigate the attack on the USS
Liberty and its aftermath; and

  WHEREAS, No memorial befitting the heroic actions of the crew of the
USS Liberty has been established due  in  part  to  the  incident  being
shrouded in controversy; 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
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M. Cuomo to proclaim June 8, 2019, as USS
Liberty 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.