New York Senate honors Korean War veterans, calls the conflict "forgotten" but not forgotten here

The New York State Senate on April 30 honored Korean War veterans with a floor resolution and a recognition ceremony that brought dozens of veterans and family members to the chamber.

Senator Scarcella Spanton introduced the resolution welcoming veterans to the Senate, saying the event was intended to restore attention to veterans of the Korean War: "Though the Korean War is often called the forgotten war, its significance has never been lost, and it changed the course of history," she said. "Today, we are here to correct that, to make clear that your bravery and your contributions will be honored and remembered, not just today, but for years to come."

The resolution (previously adopted as Resolution 548) was followed by remarks from multiple senators who thanked the veterans and recounted personal and district connections. Senator [Full name as recorded in the transcript] Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Majority Leader) praised the event and noted it was the chamber's third annual commemoration. Senators across the aisle and from multiple districts rose to welcome veterans and to cite individual veterans from their districts by name.

Several senators singled out specific veterans present in the chamber. Senator Hinchey identified two veterans from his district, Charlie Lehi and Ron Chrissy of Kingston, saying both are in their nineties and still active in their communities. Senator Fahey noted roughly 400,000 New Yorkers served in the Korean War and introduced three veterans present, including Lou Picarazzi, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955, and Frank English, a U.S. Marine and rifleman who fought through to the ceasefire in 1953.

Speakers used the occasion to press for continued support for veterans, with Senator Fahey saying, "I hope we will continue to stand united against some of the cuts that we are seeing at the Veterans Administration," and other senators offering personal tributes, Hall of Fame recognitions, and gratitude for decades of service.

Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins closed remarks by noting the commemorations were initiated in part by veteran advocacy — she thanked Randy Jurgensen, vice commander of Chapter 3 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, for helping create the event and said the Senate will continue the observance while veterans remain with us.

The Senate extended the "privileges and courtesies" of the chamber to the guests and asked those present to rise and be recognized.

The floor event combined formal adoption of a commemorative resolution with personal remarks by senators and recognition of named veterans in the gallery.