Bill Text: NY K00391 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 14, 2019, as 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-14 - adopted [K00391 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00391-Introduced.html

Assembly Resolution No. 391

BY: M. of A. Blankenbush

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May  14,  2019,  as  10th Mountain Division and Fort
        Drum Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum is located in Jefferson County, in  Northern  New
York,  and  is  the  largest  military  installation in the Northeastern
United States; and

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum, previously known as Pine Camp,  was  renamed  in
honor of Lieutenant General Hugh Drum, a decorated national hero, former
commander  of First Army during World War II, and an early leader of the
State's own volunteer militia, the New York Guard; and

  WHEREAS, For 34 years, Fort Drum has been the  home  of  the  United
States  Army's  storied 10th Mountain Division, one of the most deployed
divisions in the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS, The 10th Mountain Division served our  nation  with  honor,
distinction  and great sacrifice as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom
and other actions central to our  nation's  response  to  the  terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001; and

  WHEREAS, Elements of the 10th Mountain Division, based on Fort Drum,
were  the first to be deployed in the aftermath of those attacks and the
last units to return from combat duty; and

  WHEREAS, In addition to Operation Enduring  Freedom,  10th  Mountain
Division  deployments  have included Hurricane Andrew Relief in Florida,
Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Uphold Democracy in  Haiti,
Task  Force  Eagle in Kosovo, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Freedom
Sentinel in Afghanistan and advise and assist operations throughout  the
World; and

  WHEREAS,  More  than  300  brave  men and women of the 10th Mountain
Division, based on Fort Drum have given their  lives  to  the  cause  of
defeating global terrorism; and

  WHEREAS,  The  distinguished  service of units assigned to Fort Drum
has been celebrated by Presidents, members of Congress, and  members  of
the international community; and

  WHEREAS,  Four  heroes  serving  with  the  10th  Mountain Division,
Private First Class John D.  Magrath,  Sergeant  First  Class  Jared  C.
Monti,  Captain  William  D. Swenson and Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins
have received our military's highest honor, the Medal of Honor; and

  WHEREAS, During the 2018 fiscal year, Fort  Drum  provided  training
and  base operations to support more than 27,000 Reservists and National
Guardsmen, as well as personnel  from  other  federal  state  and  local
agencies; and

  WHEREAS,  In  August  of  2018,  the  President of the United States
visited Fort Drum to sign the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National  Defense

Authorization  Act,  which included a 2.6 percent military pay increase;
and

  WHEREAS, In addition to its vital role in our nation's defense, Fort
Drum  is also the largest employer in Northern New York, and an economic
engine for the state and region, with a direct  impact  of  nearly  $1.5
billion; and

  WHEREAS, The bond between Fort Drum and the local civilian community
is  truly  unique, and more than 33,000 soldiers, officers, retirees and
family members of Fort Drum are an integral part of  the  North  Country
who  are  welcomed  as  neighbors,  co-workers,  classmates, friends and
fellow New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  salute  the
soldiers  and  officers  of  the  10th Mountain Division, to honor their
dedication to preserving our freedom and our nation,  and  to  recognize
their  individual and collective contributions to our communities and to
New York State; and

  WHEREAS, For the past eight years, 10th Mountain Division  and  Fort
Drum  Day  has  served to educate members of this Legislative Body about
the sacrifices made every day by the brave men and women  of  our  Armed
Forces,  as  well as the importance of Fort Drum to our nation's defense
and New York's economy; and

  WHEREAS, Fort Drum has and will continue to play a critical role  in
ensuring  our nation's military readiness to defend our state and nation
against hostility and threats to our safety and national security;  now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 14, 2019,  as  10th
Mountain  Division and Fort Drum Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  Major General Brian J. Mennes, Commanding General, 10th
Mountain Division and Fort Drum.
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