Bill Text: NY K00116 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2021, as Irish American Heritage Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2021-03-17 - adopted [K00116 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00116-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 116

BY: M. of A. Cusick

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        March  2021, as Irish American Heritage Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, From America's earliest days, Irish  immigrants  and  their
descendants   have  contributed  leadership,  wisdom,  and  vitality  to
America, through nine signers of the Declaration of Independence and  22
Presidents  with  Irish  roots  as  well  as  the  indelible  mark Irish
Americans have made in the shaping of the great State and  City  of  New
York,   through  numerous  Governors,  Legislators,  Mayors  and  public
officials; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout their long history, the Irish have  been  ardent
in  their  passion  for  liberty,  hatred of oppression and renowned for
their loyalty and  thus,  the  Irish  have,  from  the  beginning,  been
prominent  in the defense of this Nation, with 20 of George Washington's
generals and an estimated quarter of his Army being  composed  of  Irish
Americans,  among  them  Timothy Murphy, a hero of the pivotal battle of
Saratoga, New York; and

  WHEREAS, Irish Americans have distinguished  themselves  ever  since
whenever  their  country  has called on them, as typified in the storied
"Fighting 69th" of New York who fought with courage and sacrifice on the
Battlefields of the American Civil War, World War  I  and  whose  Gaelic
battle  cry  of  "Faugh an Beallach" is still heard this day in Iraq and
Afghanistan in defense of our country; and

  WHEREAS, The first Congressional Medal  of  Honor  for  the  current
conflict  in  Afghanistan was awarded to Navy Seal Lieutenant Michael P.
Murphy of Smithtown, New York, who made the supreme  sacrifice  for  his
country; and

  WHEREAS,  Millions of Irish arrived in New York City in the mid-19th
Century, escaping hunger and injustice in their homeland, and where  New
York has long been a haven for immigrants, being the home of the "golden
door"  of  Ellis  Island, where the first immigrant to enter through its
passages to a new life in America was 15 year-old Annie Moore  of  Cork,
Ireland; and

  WHEREAS,  Irish immigrants and their descendants have contributed to
the building of this great society not only by the laying  of  railroads
and  the  building  of physical bridges, but also by building bridges of
the mind amongst all people through the founding  of  numerous  schools,
colleges  and universities, enhancing the quality of every phase of life
for all New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, Irish American women have a long  and  proud  tradition  of
being  visionaries  and  trailblazers, whether it be Annie Sullivan, the
teacher of Helen Keller, crusading journalist Nelly Bly  or  New  York's
own  Colonel Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a Space Shuttle;
and

  WHEREAS,  Since  1762,  Irish  New  Yorkers  have  been   faithfully
celebrating  the  feast  of  St.  Patrick every March 17th, wherein they
renew their connections to the land of their  ancestry,  pass  on  their
traditions  to the next generation, and share their pride through joyous
festivities enjoyed by all New Yorkers irrespective of ethnicity; and

  WHEREAS,  Irish  Americans  have  made  an indelible impression upon
every human endeavor in art, music, literature,  science,  film,  dance,
theatre,  sports,  education,  law,  finance,  and  politics  and  shall
continue to embellish New York's shining future,  reflecting  the  noble
past  of  this mighty race, with all the strength, resilience, humor and
hospitality of the Irish character; it is most fitting to set aside this
month to highlight and honor the  history  and  heritage  of  the  Irish
Americans and to remember and pay tribute to the contributions they have
made to our State and our Nation; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March  2021,  as  Irish
American Heritage Month 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.