Honor Specialist Fuentes Posthumously

Senate Resolution No. 1119 BY: Senator THOMAS COMMENDING Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace in peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, Daniel A. Fuentes attended Island Trees High School where he was an avid wrestler, one who always put the welfare of his team before his own; and WHEREAS, In 2005, Daniel A. Fuentes enlisted in the United States Army, just three months after graduation but always maintained close ties with his alma mater; and WHEREAS, Whenever he was home on leave, Daniel A. Fuentes would return for visits to the school; his last visit was two weeks before he was deployed to Iraq in February of 2007; and WHEREAS, Daniel A. Fuentes was known as the best of the best, a hardworking, never give up kind of guy; he never had a bad word to say about anyone and had a smile that lit up a room; and WHEREAS, Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes served his country as a member of the United States Army 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division; he was deployed out of Fort Riley, Kansas; and WHEREAS, On April 6, 2007, while in Baghdad, Iraq, 19 year-old Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes was mortally wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his vehicle; and WHEREAS, Survived by his mother, father, brother, sister, son, niece, nephew and other family members, Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes' legacy of helping others lives on; immediately following his death, the Fuentes Family set up the Specialist Daniel Fuentes Memorial Scholarship fund at Island Trees High School to help ensure other Island Trees "Bulldogs" get the opportunity for a college education; and WHEREAS, Since that time, over 60 scholarships have been awarded to students who exemplify Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes' sense of honesty, loyalty, and courage; and WHEREAS, In 2017, after 10 successful years of having the scholarship fund at Island Trees High School, the Fuentes Family opened the non-profit Daniel Fuentes Foundation to not only provide scholarships to Island Trees seniors, but to also help support our active military, veterans and Military K-9 friends; and WHEREAS, In recent years, the Daniel Fuentes Foundation has donated custom wrestling apparel to the Island Trees Wrestling Team; and sent care packages to soldiers overseas; as well as care packages to the Military K-9s including food, medications and other medical needs; and WHEREAS, In addition, each year, the Daniel Fuentes Foundation host the "Gold Star Families Remembrance of Our Fallen Heroes" at Eisenhower Park with the help of Nassau County and other Gold Star Families, reading the names of all New York State Fallen Heroes; and WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage with which these men and women served their country, and must recognize that no greater debt is owed than that owed to those who gave their lives for their beloved Nation and to those who continue to be missing in action; and WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad, Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes demonstrated his love for his country and merits forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; and WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Specialist Daniel A. Fuentes.