SENATOR BILL STACHOWSKI ON MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is a day when all Americans join together to remember the  sacrifices of those who answered their nation's call. We pause to recognize the magnitude of the deeds of the men and women who held true to the notion that evil and tyranny must NEVER prevail.

 This value has been the driving force behind every war in our Nation's history. It is our sacred duty to keep the legacy of our nation's patriots forever fresh in the memories of future generations. They fought and died to preserve this land of hopes and dreams.

Without the courage, valor and perseverance of our nation's veterans, the values that have always made it possible for us to meet new challenges would have been lost. The freedoms that so many Americans enjoy do not come cheaply.

 They were paid for with the flesh and blood of American servicemen and women, and with the tears of those whose lives were changed forever by the loss of a loved one.

 Memorial Day is a day of opportunity to give thanks for all that we are blessed with. It should also be a day that we rededicate ourselves to our country and to America's living veterans and their families in memory of the sacrifices they and others have made.

 We have a responsibility to do our best to repay the debt that is owed to those who have presented us with our most precious gift ... Freedom.

I am currently sponsoring State Senate Legislation that would provide greater benefits and  protections to New York’s military personnel; professional engineers, architects, landscape architects and land surveyors would receive immunity from liability for providing volunteer services during times of crisis and catastrophe such as an attack on our nation.  

In addition, I am cosponsoring other legislation introduced in the State Senate this year that would provide greater benefits and protections to New York’s military personnel.  These include measures to better train mental health providers in veteran specific mental health issues; to offer more employment opportunities to veterans; to care for our veterans’ cemeteries as well as other support for veterans and the families of New York’s service members.

 Recently we teamed up with Horizon Health Services, helping them receive a half million dollar NYS legislative grant to develop a new veteran’s center. The center will provide better access to mental health services, employment opportunities, and other support for veterans and families of New York’s service members who have served our state and nation.

 An official Federal holiday for the last three decades, the origins of Memorial Day go back to the years just following the Civil War.  In the spring of 1866 localities across the nation held tributes to those who lost their lives in the war.  In 1868, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan  -- the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans -- established Decoration Day to give people across the nation an opportunity to decorate the graves of war veterans.  After World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American  Wars, not just the Civil War and in 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress.

With American troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other stations of  the world fighting for our nation and for our freedom,  it is important that we reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and remember the efforts and sacrifices of all of our veterans and military personnel -- past and present.

So, this Memorial Day take a moment to remember the real reason for the holiday, fly your flag, watch a parade, visit a cemetery, thank a veteran, or visit someone who has lost a family member who was defending our great country. God Bless you and God Bless America this Memorial Day 2010.