Honor Parade Grand Marshal

Senate Resolution No. 2392 BY: Senator GOLDEN HONORING Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial Day Parade WHEREAS, Each and every city, town, village and hamlet within its borders resonates with the rich and noble history of New York State and this nation; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend events which symbolize the historical, social and cultural development of this great State and embody the spirit of the principles upon which this nation was founded, and to applaud individuals who have dedicated their life's work in support and furtherance of those principles; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial Day Parade; and WHEREAS, On Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday of the month of May, we honor those Americans who gave their lives in defense of their country, whether in the Civil War which divided our nation or in times of war since that time, and in times of peace, in police actions and minor skirmishes, in peacekeeping roles and in missions to foreign lands to uphold the cherished principles of liberty and democracy upon which our grand Republic was founded; and WHEREAS, A fitting choice for Grand Marshal of the Kings County Memorial Day Parade, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. proudly served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps for 40 years; he began his distinguished career as an Infantry Officer with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in Okinawa and culminating as the Commanding General for the Marine Corps Forces Pacific, a diverse organization of

83,000 postured to respond immediately to any crisis across the Asia-Pacific region; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.'s second assignment came as a three year tour at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot San Diego California, where he met his bride of 37 years, Helen; he was subsequently re-assigned as a Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines; and WHEREAS, From 1984-1987, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. served as the Marine Officer Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. transferred to the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune as the Staff Secretary; he then served the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion as Operations Officer and Executive Officer from 1987-1991; in this capacity, he had a vital role in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM; and WHEREAS, From 1981-1994, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. worked with Manpower Officer Assignments; he was then selected for command of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (also known as Wolfpack), in Twentynine Palms from 1994-1997; and WHEREAS, Following battalion command, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. attended Air Force War College in Montgomery, Alabama, and was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Joint Planning Officer at Supreme Allied Headquarters, in Mons, Belgium, where Operation ALLIED FORCE in support of Bosnia and Kosovo consumed his attention during his European tour; and WHEREAS, From 2000-2002, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. commanded Weapons and Field Training Battalion in Camp Pendleton; he then joined the 1st Marine Division as the Operations Officer for deployment on Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; and WHEREAS, In March of 2003, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. took command of Regimental Combat Team 1, leading his team in the march to Baghdad; and WHEREAS, One year later, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.'s combat team returned to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II in 2004; following regimental command, he was assigned as the Director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia; and WHEREAS, In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 2006, and was assigned as the Principal Director for Asia/Pacific Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in Washington, DC; and WHEREAS, From 2008-2010, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. served as Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan; in 2009, he was promoted to Major General; and WHEREAS, In July of 2010, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. was assigned as Commander of the 2D Marine Division; in March of 2011, he deployed as the Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in the role of Commander, Regional Command (South West) until March of 2012; and WHEREAS, In September of 2012, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force; in August of 2014, he assumed command of Marine Forces, Pacific; and WHEREAS, In August of 2016, Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. retired from the military, after 40 years of honorable and highly accomplished service; and WHEREAS, As we observe and remember our deceased veterans on Memorial Day, we recall their brave and noble deeds which have served to maintain our most precious and cherished freedoms and honor those who continue to work diligently to support and sustain them; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of Brooklyn's 150th Kings County Memorial Day Parade; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Lieutenant General John A. Toolan, Jr.