Honor Staten Island Marine Corps

Senate Resolution No. 1380 BY: Senator LANZA COMMENDING Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246 for 73 years of service to community, country and the Corps, and honoring Sergeant Angel Mendez posthumously in recognition of the renaming of the Post as the Sergeant Angel Mendez Detachment WHEREAS, A great state is only as great as those organizations and individuals who perform exemplary service on behalf of their community; and WHEREAS, The dedication and sacrifices of our military personnel ensure our continued role as a Nation which embodies the ideals of democracy, and is a defender of liberty for peoples throughout the world; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246 for 73 years of service to community, country and the Corps, and to honor Sergeant Angel Mendez posthumously in recognition of the renaming of the Post as the Sergeant Angel Mendez Detachment during a ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2019; and WHEREAS, In August of 1946, three Marines, John T. O'Brien, Charles Warner and Ken Strong, all of whom had served in World War II, met to discuss the formation of a Marine Corps League Detachment; and WHEREAS, A few informal gatherings generated enough interest to warrant moving ahead; the Detachment was issued a charter on October 8,

1946, as the Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246, and was signed by 12 members; and WHEREAS, From 1965 to 1969, 29 Island Marines lost their lives in Vietnam, although the War was much longer; in 1965, member Bobby Thompson was instrumental in leading the drive to erect a fitting memorial for those who died; and WHEREAS, Thereafter, the membership of Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246 slowly increased, surpassing 200 in 1991, which also marked its 45th Anniversary; at that time, 85 Island Marines died in service to their country, as well as 50 Detachment members; and WHEREAS, In 1991, Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246 supported the forces in Desert Storm and assisted with the formation of the Family Support Group; in 2001, after the country was attacked, Detachment members helped in the clean-up and family support of the many casualties; and WHEREAS, Sergeant Angel Mendez was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his courage, bravery and valor during the Vietnam War; and WHEREAS, It has been widely documented that Sergeant Angel Mendez, a proud son who lost his life on March 16, 1967, was a true war hero; raised at Mount Loretto, he joined the Marine Corps in 1964; he was killed in action protecting his platoon commander, Lieutenant Ronald Castille, who would go on to become a Justice of the Supreme Court; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organizations and individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246 for 73 years of service to community, country and the Corps, and to honor Sergeant Angel Mendez posthumously in recognition of the renaming of the Post as the Sergeant Angel Mendez Detachment; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Sergeant Angel Mendez Detachment.