LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Long Island University Post Campus
upon the occasion of the Commissioning of the Admiral Richard L. Conolly
American Legion Post 2014 on May 28, 2014

WHEREAS, The dedication and sacrifices of our military personnel ensure
our continued role as a Nation which embodies the ideals of democracy,
and is a defender of liberty for peoples throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those exemplary institutions of higher education within the
State of New York who distinguish themselves in their enduring commit-
ment to the pursuit of academic excellence and in their dedication to
meeting the needs of our Nation's veterans; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Long Island University Post Campus upon the occasion of the Commission-
ing of the Admiral Richard L. Conolly American Legion Post 2014; this
auspicious event will take place Wednesday, May 28, 2014, on the LIU
Post campus; and
WHEREAS, The celebration will feature national and New York State
American Legion leaders, and Lt. Commander Jay Conolly, Admiral Richard
L. Conolly's great-grandson; in addition, the college will recognize
veteran-students: Michael Knauer, Post Commander; Vice Commanders Dan
Potenzieri, Ashley Clay, and Matt Gabriel; as well as Post Treasurer
Olatokunbo Oke, and Chaplain Julio Hernandez; and
WHEREAS, Long Island University Post Campus (LIU Post) has a proud
history of supporting America's veterans, beginning in 1954 when the
campus was first established to serve the growing suburban communities
that quickly became populated with veterans seeking to advance their
education through the GI Bill; it is a nationally recognized "Yellow
Ribbon" institution, providing scholarship assistance, health and well-
ness services, academic support and many other services to veteran-stu-
dents; and
WHEREAS, The Admiral Richard L. Conolly American Legion Post 2014,
which will serve student veterans, their families and colleagues, is one
of the few campus-based American Legion posts in the United States; and
WHEREAS, This new post is named for Admiral Richard L. Conolly, LIU
Post's first President, and one of the United States' top military lead-
ers; and
WHEREAS, In his distinguished military career, Admiral Richard L.
Conolly gained the nickname "Close-In Conolly" from his insistence that
fire support ships should be extremely close to the beach during amphib-
ious assaults; awarded the Navy Cross, he was the naval representative
to the 1946 Paris Peace Conference, commanded the United States Twelfth
Fleet from September 1946 until January 1947, and then U.S. Naval Forces
Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1947 until 1950; and
WHEREAS, Admiral Richard L. Conolly's last assignment was as President
of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, from 1950 to 1953; he
retired with the rank of Admiral in November 1953, and was then the
president of Long Island University until 1962; and
WHEREAS, On March 1, 1962, Admiral Richard L. Conolly and his wife,
Helen B. Conolly, were passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 1,
which crashed into Jamaica Bay soon after take-off from Idlewild
Airport, New York City, killing all 95 passengers and crew aboard; he is
buried at Arlington National Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, The ship USS Conolly (DD-979), a Spruance-class destroyer,
was named for Admiral Richard Lansing Conolly; it served in every thea-

ter of naval operations until it was scuttled in training exercises in
2009; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which our Veterans served their country, and must recognize that no
greater debt is owed than that owed to those who gave their lives for
their beloved Nation and to those who continue to be missing in action;
and
WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we pay tribute to those institutions
which, in the creation, implementation and long-term maintenance of
programs and initiatives that advance the best possible interests of
veterans and their families, demonstrate the heartfelt appreciation and
gratitude shared by all New Yorkers for their dedication and sacrifice;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Long Island University Post Campus upon the occasion of the
Commissioning of the Admiral Richard L. Conolly American Legion Post
2014 on May 28, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Admiral Richard L. Conolly American Legion Post 2014.