Senate Resolution No. 2214

BY: Senator SCARCELLA-SPANTON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 7, 2024, as 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum
Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Fort Drum is located in Jefferson County, in Northern New
York, and is the largest military installation in the Northeastern
United States; and

WHEREAS, Fort Drum, previously known as Pine Camp, was renamed in
honor of Lieutenant General Hugh Drum, a decorated national hero, former
commander of First Army, and an early leader of the State's own
volunteer militia, the New York Guard; and

WHEREAS, For more than three decades, Fort Drum has been the home of
the United States Army's storied 10th Mountain Division, one of the most
deployed divisions in the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Members of the 10th Mountain Division have served our
nation with honor, distinction, and great sacrifice as a part of
Operation Enduring Freedom and other actions central to our nation's
response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Elements of the 10th Mountain Division, based on Fort Drum,
were the first to be deployed in the aftermath of those attacks and the
last units to return from combat duty; and

WHEREAS, In addition to Operation Enduring Freedom, the 10th
Mountain Division deployments have included Hurricane Andrew Relief in
Florida, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Uphold Democracy
in Haiti, Task Force Eagle in Kosovo, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan, and advise and assist operations
throughout the World; and

WHEREAS, More than 300 brave men and women of the 10th Mountain
Division have given their lives to the cause of defeating global
terrorism; and

WHEREAS, Distinguished service of units assigned to Fort Drum have
been celebrated by Presidents, members of Congress, and members of the
international community; and

WHEREAS, Four heroes serving with the 10th Mountain Division,
Private First Class John D. Magrath, Sergeant First Class Jared C.
Monti, Captain William D. Swenson, and Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins
have received our military's highest honor, the Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, In addition to its vital role in our nation's defense, Fort
Drum is also the largest employer in Northern New York, the State's
largest single-site employer, and an economic engine for the State and
region; the Fort has a total impact of $1.9 billion; and

WHEREAS, A special bond exists between Fort Drum and the civilian
communities surrounding it; the 33,000 soldiers and family members of

the installation are an integral part of the North Country who not only
are considered defenders of our freedom, but also our neighbors,
co-workers, classmates, friends, and fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to salute the
soldiers and officers of the 10th Mountain Division, to honor their
dedication to preserving our freedom and our nation, and to recognize
their individual and collective contributions to our communities and to
New York State; and

WHEREAS, For the past ten years, the 10th Mountain Division and Fort
Drum Day has served to educate members of this Legislative Body about
the sacrifices made every day by the brave men and women of our Armed
Forces, as well as the importance of Fort Drum to our nation's defense
and New York's economy; and

WHEREAS, Fort Drum has and will continue to play a critical role in
ensuring our nation's military readiness to defend our state and nation
against hostility and threats to our safety and national security; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 7, 2024, as 10th
Mountain Division and Fort Drum Day in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Major General Gregory Anderson, Commanding General, 10th
Mountain Division, and Fort Drum.