Honor Matthew Rozell Award

Senate Resolution No. 5058 BY: Senator LITTLE HONORING Matthew A. Rozell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2018 Good Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America on May 10, 2018 WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Matthew A. Rozell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2018 Good Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America, to be celebrated at an event on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious award is bestowed upon individuals who exemplify, in daily life, the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America, as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; the recipients are chosen for their outstanding community service through leadership, as well as for the respect and esteem in which their colleagues hold them; Matthew A. Rozell is one such individual; and WHEREAS, An acclaimed history teacher and author, Matthew A. Rozell is widely recognized as a well-known authority on World War II and the Holocaust; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell was born to Tony and Mary Rozell, both of whom were educators in the Glens Falls, New York area; and WHEREAS, After earning his degree from SUNY Geneseo, Matthew A. Rozell began his long and distinguished career as an educator with St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls; in 1987, he became a history teacher for Hudson Falls High School, his alma mater; and WHEREAS, Two years later, Matthew A. Rozell married his college sweetheart, Laura, who also worked as a teacher; together, the couple raised three children; and WHEREAS, For his steadfast and unremitting commitment to his students, Matthew A. Rozell was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2012 Medal for Education by NSDAR Founders, and the 2010 History Teacher of the Year Award by the Organization of American Historians; and WHEREAS, In addition, Matthew A. Rozell is a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow and has helped that institution acquire original photographs, artwork, and letters relating to the Holocaust; and WHEREAS, In 2016, Matthew A. Rozell earned a scholarship for intense study at Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority; in that same year, he received the New York State Education Department's highest award for teaching about the Holocaust and human rights; during this special occasion, he was honored to sit in the chancellor's chair and address the commissioner and the New York State Board of Regents on the importance of the teaching and learning of history; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell has written four books and his great work as an educator at Hudson Falls High School has been showcased nationally and internationally; he has been featured as the "ABC World News Person of the Week" and his teaching experiences have been filmed for the "CBS Evening News", NBC Learn, the Israeli Broadcast Authority, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the New York State United Teachers; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to preserving the horrors and triumphs of the Holocaust, Matthew A. Rozell reunited over 275 Holocaust survivors with their actual American soldier-liberators, which was described in his

2016 book, A Train Near Magdeburg; and WHEREAS, A documentary featuring Matthew A. Rozell and his students was broadcast on Israeli state television, and in 2015, the iconic liberation photograph that he brought to light (after interviewing World War II liberators) was the backdrop for the state Holocaust commemoration ceremonies in Jerusalem on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, with the Israeli Knesset, President, and Prime Minister in attendance; and WHEREAS, In addition to his valuable work as a purveyor of history, Matthew A. Rozell has worked as an avocational archeologist under Dr. David Starbuck for 20 years; during the summers, he served as a guide at several colonial British military fortifications; in this capacity, he led students to discover things like the smallpox hospital on Rogers Island, the west curtain wall of the original Fort Edward, the east and west barracks on the Fort William Henry parade ground, and the nearly intact colonial trading post just south of Fort Edward; and WHEREAS, After a long and rewarding teaching career, Matthew A. Rozell's last formal day of work was in June of 2017; in his much deserved retirement, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family at his home on 64 acres of land in Washington County; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell also continues to write; he has two more books slated for release in 2018 for his book series, The Things Our Fathers Saw-The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown, USA; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell is a man of great intelligence and wisdom, and has always strived to make a difference by devoting his life to educating others about the atrocities of the Holocaust and the meritorious veterans of World War II; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozzell prides himself on being a good teacher who always strived to be a vessel of humanity for people all over the world; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his loving wife, Laura, and their three children, Emma, Ned and Mary, all of whom have shown him love and support and rejoice in his many achievements; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell's dedication to his community and to scouting has had a lasting impact on the greater Hudson Falls community; and WHEREAS, Matthew A. Rozell has clearly had an enduring impact on the youth of Hudson Falls, as well as on the community-at-large, and accordingly merits recognition and applause for his impressive dedication to others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Matthew A. Rozell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2018 Good Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America on