LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ray Sestak upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 50th Annual Four Chaplains Brotherhood
Award to be celebrated on Sunday, February 22, 2015

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energy and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Ray Sestak has given not only of his time and energy but also
of his competence, intelligence and leadership and, consequently, has
been designated for special recognition; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Ray Sestak
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 50th Annual
Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award by the Jewish War Veterans of the
United States Albany Post No. 105 to be celebrated at a memorial service
on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Samuel S. Stratton Veterans Affairs
Medical Center Chapel, Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award is given annually to an
individual for outstanding participation and service in activities which
exemplify the principles of brotherhood; and
WHEREAS, The Four Chaplains gave their lives in the sinking of the
troopship Dorchester on February 3, 1943; the Brotherhood Award honors
residents of the Capital District whose services and devotion in the
practice of brotherhood are deserving of recognition; and
WHEREAS, Ray Sestak served his country proudly as a member of the
United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971; he bravely flew combat recon-
naissance missions with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing during the Vietnam
War; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed man retired as Chief Information Officer for
the New York State Lottery in 2008, and immediately offered his services
as a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) volunteer van driver at the Strat-
ton VA Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Since then, Ray Sestak has logged more than 3,600 volunteer
hours in support of veteran needs, including offering his time, both as
coordinator and driver, to support the volunteer transportation program,
Homeless Veterans Stand Down, and the Albany Memorial Day and Veterans
Day Parades; in addition he has helped inpatient psychiatric wing
patients with a monthly movie night; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed man's commitment to veterans was further illus-
trated through his service as Ride Captain with the Patriot Guard
Riders; as part of his duties, he coordinates and directs motorcycle
escorts for veteran funerals and supports the departures of veterans
participating in the Honor Flight Network of flights to their memorials
in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, A member of numerous civic and veterans organizations, Ray
Sestak is a life member and Vice President of the Capital District Chap-
ter Eight of the Vietnam Veterans of America and a life member of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Waterford Post 5800; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Ray serves as the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS)
Representative for the Vietnam Veterans of America; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Ray Sestak has displayed throughout
his life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the vitality and well-being of their community and its citizens,
and have shown a long and sustained commitment to humanitarianism, have
certainly 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 Ray Sestak upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the 50th Annual Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ray Sestak.