Bill Text: NY J02907 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending William A. Hanson posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-12-22 - ADOPTED [J02907 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02907-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2907

BY: Senator JORDAN

        COMMENDING William A. Hanson posthumously upon the
        occasion  of  his  designation  as  recipient  of  a
        Liberty Medal, the highest honor  bestowed  upon  an
        individual by the New York State Senate

  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 justly proud to commend William A.
Hanson posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an  individual  by  the
New York State Senate; and

  WHEREAS,  The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is  awarded  to  individuals  who  have  merited  special
commendation  for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, Born on August 9, 1941, to Joseph and Mary Grace (Allinger)
Hanson, in Old Chatham, New York,  William  A.  Hanson  attended  Canaan
Elementary School and Chatham High School, graduating in 1959; and

  WHEREAS,  William  A.  Hanson began his illustrious military service
with the United States Air Force on October 17,  1961,  in  Albany,  New
York, as a 2nd Lieutenant; and

  WHEREAS,  After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base
in Texas, William A. Hanson received additional training at Keesler  Air
Force  Base in Mississippi as an Apprentice Aircraft Control and Warning
Operator; and

  WHEREAS, Assigned to 756 Radar Squadron (Air  Defense  Command)  and
given  duties to detect vessels, planes and vehicles before they entered
an area of operations, Airman  2nd  Class  William  A.  Hanson  directed
aircraft  strikes  and  surveillance,  and  served  as  a radar operator
overseas at the Alaconte Air Station in Spain for 11 months  during  the
Cold War; and

  WHEREAS,  A  truly  remarkable  soldier, Airman 2nd Class William A.
Hanson courageously served with Special Operations Ground Based  of  the
343 Combat Special Tactics Squadron despite extremely high tensions as a
result of the Cuban Missile Crisis; and

  WHEREAS,  For  his  courageous  service, Airman 2nd Class William A.
Hanson was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal; and

  WHEREAS, William A. Hanson married Judith Hatch on June 13, 1970, in
Spencertown, New York, and they raised three loving children, Elizabeth,
James and Kenneth; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his  military  service,  William  A.
Hanson   returned  to  New  York  to  be  with  his  family;  he  was  a
self-employed electrician, owning and operating his own business, Canaan
Electric;  he  later  served  as  Canaan  Highway   Superintendent   and
Electrical Inspector for Columbia County; and

  WHEREAS,  Active  in  his community, William A. Hanson served for 50
years as a Fire Chief at Canaan Fire Company and was the  co-founder  of
the non-profit scholarship Power the Way for Education; and

  WHEREAS, William A. Hanson died on December 15, 2018, in Canaan, New
York and is buried in St. James Cemetery in Ghent, New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Having  exhibited  his patriotism both at home and abroad,
William A. Hanson demonstrated his  love  for  his  country  and  merits
forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; 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
commend  William  A.  Hanson  posthumously  upon  the  occasion  of  his
designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor  bestowed
upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of William A. Hanson.