What's happening
This bill designates March 25th as "Medal of Honor Day" in New York State as an annual day of commemoration.
Why it matters
Highlights and honors military bravery. By establishing "Medal of Honor Day," the bill creates an annual platform to recognize the extraordinary acts of valor by recipients of the nation’s highest military honor, increasing public awareness of their sacrifices.
Promotes civic and historical education. The designation encourages schools, organizations, and communities to educate New Yorkers about the significance of the Medal of Honor, its history, and the stories of recipients, fostering a deeper appreciation for American military history.
Strengthens recognition of veterans. Adding this day to the state’s official calendar of commemorations reinforces New York’s commitment to honoring veterans and service members, potentially leading to new ceremonies, educational initiatives, or community events focused on military service and heroism.
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Who cares
Medal of Honor recipients
The bill would recognize them by designating March 25 each year as Medal of Honor Day in New York.
Veterans’ organizations
The bill would add Medal of Honor Day to the state’s annual commemorations alongside existing days recognizing veterans.
Military families
The bill would establish an annual state commemoration honoring Medal of Honor recipients, without requiring ceremonies or other observances.
Headline styles
Honor Medal Day Established
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.470
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Medal of Honor Day
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Pamela J. Hunter
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5204
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to designating March twenty-fifth as "Medal of Honor Day"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 168-a of the executive law, as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
3. The following days shall be days of commemoration in each year: January sixth, to be known as "Haym Salomon Day", January twenty-seventh, to be known as "Holocaust Remembrance Day", February fourth, to be known as "Rosa Parks Day", February fifteenth, to be known as "Susan B. Anthony Day", February sixteenth, to be known as "Lithuanian Independence Day", February twenty-eighth, to be known as "Gulf War Veterans' Day", March fourth, to be known as "Pulaski Day", March tenth, to be known as "Harriet Tubman Day", March twenty-ninth, to be known as "Vietnam Veterans' Day", April ninth, to be known as "POW Recognition Day", April twenty-seventh, to be known as "Coretta Scott King Day", April twenty-eighth, to be known as "Workers' Memorial Day", the first Tuesday in May to be known as "New York State Teacher Day", May seventeenth, to be known as "Thurgood Marshall Day", the first Sunday in June, to be known as "Children's Day", June second, to be known as "Italian Independence Day", June twelfth, to be known as "Women Veterans Recognition Day", June nineteenth, to be known as "Juneteenth Freedom Day", June twenty-fifth, to be known as "Korean War Veterans' Day", March twentyfifth, to be known as "Medal of Honor Day", August twenty-fourth, to be known as "Ukrainian Independence Day", August twenty-sixth, to be known as "Women's Equality Day", September eleventh, to be known as "Battle of Plattsburgh Day" and also to be known as "September 11th Remembrance Day", September thirteenth, to be known as "John Barry Day" and also to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04900-01-9
S. 5204 2
be known as "Uncle Sam Day in the State of New York", September seventeenth, to be known as "Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Memorial Day", the third Friday in September to be known as "New York State POW/MIA Recognition Day" except if such date of commemoration cannot be observed due to a religious holiday, such observances shall then be conducted on the second Friday of September, the last Saturday in September, to be known as "War of 1812 Day", the fourth Saturday of September, known as "Native-American Day", the last Sunday in September, to be known as "Gold Star Mothers' Day", October fifth, to be known as "Raoul Wallenberg Day", October eleventh, to be known as "New Netherland Day in the State of New York", October eighteenth, to be known as "Disabilities History Day", October twenty-seventh, to be known as "Theodore Roosevelt Day", November ninth, to be known as "Witness for Tolerance Day", November twelfth, to be known as "Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day", the third Tuesday in November to be known as "New York State School-Related Professionals Recognition Day", November thirtieth, to be known as "Shirley Chisholm Day", December third, to be known as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities", December seventh, to be known as "Pearl Harbor Day", December sixteenth, to be known as "Bastogne Day" and that day of the Asian lunar calendar designated as new year to be known as "Asian New Year".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to designating March twenty-fifth as "Medal of Honor Day"
Purpose
This bill would designate March 25th to be commemorated as Medal of Honor Day in New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 168-a of the executive law to designate March 25th to be known as "Medal of Honor Day."
Justification
The first presentation of Medals of Honor occurred in 1863, and were reserved for those who distinguished themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity." On this day, we remember and honor the cour- age and selfless sacrifice of those incredible men and women. The high- est military commendation our nation can confer is the Medal of Honor. This legislation seeks to honor those service men and women who have received this prestigious recognition by commemorating March 25th as "Medal of Honor Day" in New York State.
Legislative history
2017-2018: S.5587 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.