LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Kathryn Simmons, posthumously, upon the
occasion of her induction into the Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall
of Fame

WHEREAS, Individuals who distinguish themselves in their profession and
in service to their community merit the highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing tradition, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Kathryn Simmons, posthumously, upon the occasion of her induction into
the Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall of Fame; her outstanding and
pioneering accomplishments were recognized on Sunday, October 13, 2013,
at the 2013 Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Cere-
mony and Banquet, which was held at the Erie Trackside Manor in Port
Jervis, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall of Fame annually
recognizes individuals who have achieved personal success and have made
a significant contribution to society, serving as role models to inspire
current and future generations of Port Jervis students; and
WHEREAS, The late Kathryn Simmons, Class of 1938, was a woman before
her time; upon graduation from high school, she earned a nursing degree
from St. Catherine's Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn, New York
and, in 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, was one of the patriotic young
women who responded to the nation's call for military nurses; and
WHEREAS, Kathryn Simmons' service in the Navy Nurse Corps included a
tour of duty at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; the World War II veteran was one
the first women in the State of New York and the country allowed to
become a member of a VFW post, as well as the first, and only, female
veteran to serve as Captain of the VFW Tri-State Naval Ship in Port
Jervis; and
WHEREAS, After serving with honor in World War II, Kathryn Simmons
cared for tuberculosis patients at the former Otisville Sanatorium, and
worked as an operating room and obstetrics nurse at the former St. Fran-
cis Hospital in Port Jervis; and
WHEREAS, Possessed of an adventurous spirit, Kathryn Simmons also took
flight lessons, which is where she met her future husband, the late
David Simmons, Jr.; the couple married in 1947 and spent the rest of
their lives in Port Jervis, raising their four sons and working for the
betterment of the community; and
WHEREAS, Kathryn Simmons was an avid volunteer; she, along with her
husband, was instrumental in the formation of the Port Jervis Little
League and Pop Warner League, and she was a den leader, President of the
Parent Teacher's Association, and a member of the Catholic Daughters of
America; in addition, she served as President of the Port Jervis School
District Board of Education and vice president of the Orange-Ulster
BOCES Board, working tirelessly throughout her 15 years on both boards
on behalf of special needs children; and
WHEREAS, This exceptional woman was honored for her many contrib-
utions; Orange-Ulster BOCES named a section of its special education
building in her honor, and after her death, the Tri-States Naval Ship
VFW established a scholarship at Port Jervis High School in her name;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those individ-
uals who enhanced the well-being and vitality of their community and
demonstrated a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly
have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Kathryn Simmons, posthumously, upon the occasion of her induction
into the Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall of Fame; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Kathryn Simmons.