Assembly Resolution No. 256

BY: M. of A. Walsh

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
April 11, 2023, as Submarine Day in the State of New
York, in conjunction with the observance of National
Submarine Day

WHEREAS, Submarines and the brave men and women who crew them play a
critical role in the defense of our Nation, and the protection of
citizens of the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Each year, the American submarine community celebrates
National Submarine Day on the anniversary of United States government's
acquisition of its first modern commissioned submarine, the USS Holland,
on April 11, 1900; and

WHEREAS, The United States Navy was born in Whitehall, New York, in
the summer of 1775, with the establishment of an American fleet; and

WHEREAS, United States Attack Submarines are named after U.S.
cities, including the USS Albany and the USS Buffalo; and

WHEREAS, New York City is home to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space
Museum, a military and maritime history museum with a collection of
museum ships, and the New York State Submariners Memorial is located in
the Village of Ballston Spa, the first memorial dedicated to the
Submariners from a State rather than the Submarine from which they
served; and

WHEREAS, A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent
operation underwater, and differs from a submersible, which has more
limited underwater capability; and

WHEREAS, The term submarine most commonly refers to a large crewed
autonomous vessel, but historically or colloquially, can also refer to
medium-sized or smaller vessels, as well as remotely operated vehicles
or robots; and

WHEREAS, Named after its inventor, John Philip Holland, the USS
Holland was designed in 1896, and launched on May 17, 1897, in
Elizabeth, New Jersey; considered the first truly successful craft of
its kind, the vessel rendered valuable service to the United States Navy
until its decommissioning in 1905; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the purchase of the USS Holland, the first known
military submarine built in the United States was the Turtle, a ship
which saw action in the Revolutionary War era, but before the creation
of the official United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, In 1862, the United States Navy launched the USS Alligator,
its first submarine and fourth Navy ship of that name during the Civil
War; however, it was never officially commissioned, and sank due to bad
weather while attempting to take part in an attack on the Confederacy;
and

WHEREAS, Throughout the past 123 years, America's submarines have
played a vital part in wars in which our Nation's freedom was at stake,
as well as in the preservation of naval security and strategic readiness
during peacetime; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is very pleased to have this
opportunity to express its gratitude to our exceptional submarine fleet
and the courageous men and women, past and present, of the United States
Armed Forces for their tremendous sacrifices made on behalf of our
Nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 11, 2023, as
Submarine Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Submarine Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.