Bill Text: NY J01377 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 13, 2019, as Blue Star Families' Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-07 - ADOPTED [J01377 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01377-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 376

BY: M. of A. McDonald

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May  13,  2019,  as  Blue  Star Families' Day in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. dates back to World  War
II  and is a support organization for mothers of children serving or who
have served in the United States military; and

  WHEREAS, The blue star flag was created in 1917 by an  Army  captain
from  Ohio;  it  quickly  became  the  unofficial  symbol  of a child in
service; the organization itself was conceived during World  War  II  in
1942; and

  WHEREAS,  The  symbol of the blue star surrounded by a red rectangle
represents hope and pride; Blue Star Mothers perform volunteer duties on
the home front and work in hospitals and on civil defense; and

  WHEREAS, The Blue Star  Mothers  organization  is  named  after  the
signature  blue  stars,  which  mothers hang in their windows when their
children are called to service, either stateside or overseas; and

  WHEREAS, During World War II, there were approximately  30,000  Blue
Star  Mothers,  and several thousand during the Korean and Vietnam wars;
national membership, however, dropped to an all-time low of 1,200 during
the 1990s; and

  WHEREAS, In recent years, Blue Star Mothers has gained 217  chapters
with troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere; anxious mothers
of  servicemen  and women are forming chapters nationwide, including the
first Capital Region Blue Star Mothers group; and

  WHEREAS, Darlene Ward and Kay Moody  established  New  York  State's
second  Blue Star chapter in Delmar, the first having been in Rochester,
to encourage their children and to meet other military parents with whom
they have much in common; and

  WHEREAS, In December 2006,  the  small  group  of  mothers  met  and
discussed  issues  families face when their sons and daughters go off to
war; in addition to supporting the needs of parents  in  the  area,  the
members  support  the  troops,  sending  Freedom  Boxes,  cards and good
wishes; they also participate in veterans' projects on a regular  basis;
and

  WHEREAS,  The  charter  for  the  Capital  Region  No. 2 Chapter was
approved on February 6, 2007; since December 2006,  its  membership  has
grown to 135 members; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 13, 2019,  as  Blue
Star Families' Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of

New  York,  and  Donna Vickery, President, Capital Region No. 2 Chapter,
Blue Star Mothers of America.