LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Joseph Forte upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by the Kingston Veterans Association
on June 1, 2016

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's
freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace in peace-
time, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commend those
who have served in times of active conflict, as well as those who have
served in times of peace; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Joseph Forte
upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the
Kingston Veterans Association, to be celebrated at Testimonial Affair on
Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at the VFW Post No. 1386, Kingston, New York;
and
WHEREAS, At the young age of 13, Joseph Forte, affectionately known as
Joe, was recruited to play Taps at military funerals and memorial
services with the American Legion Post Color Guard; he proudly played
the famous bugle call at the end of all military funerals until June of
1945, when he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of sixteen;
and
WHEREAS, Throughout his military career, he proudly served his country
as a member of the Sixth Air Force as an aerial gunner in the Panama
Canal Zone; in the summer of 1946, it was discovered he was underage and
was honorably discharged a few months later with the rank of Sergeant;
and
WHEREAS, In February of 1947, Joseph Forte re-enlisted at West Point
Military Academy for service with the United States Military Academy
(USMA) Band; in August of 1950, while being processed to serve in Korea
as a rifleman in the 27th Infantry of the 25th Division, it was deter-
mined that he was serving under a medical waiver which resulted in his
being returned to West Point with the USMA Band; and
WHEREAS, In November of 1947, this talented musician was invited to
play Echo Taps to Master Sergeant Newell Fisher at a ceremony for the
returning dead of World War II in Central Park, New York City; in Octo-
ber of 1948, he played Taps at the interment of the only Medal of Honor
recipient of the City of Kingston; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Joseph Forte played Taps at the interment of
Davit "Mickey" Marcus, a West Point graduate who was Israel's first
Defense Minister; in January of 1991, he was invited to play Taps at the
interment of Past National Commander of The American Legion, The Honor-
able Hamilton Fish, Sr.; and
WHEREAS, For over 26 years, Joseph Forte played in the West Point
Band; in April of 1973, he officially retired from the United States
Army with the title of Master Sergeant with over 27 years of distin-
guished service; and
WHEREAS, This year, Joseph Forte will be inducted into the 2016 New
York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, this honorable veteran participated in
numerous Cadet and West Point activities such as parades, concerts,
football games, and military funerals; he was privileged to march in
seven Presidential Inaugural Parades in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, For several months, Joseph Forte played Taps at Fort Myer in
Virginia with a ceremonial group in Arlington National Cemetery, and was
a bugler with the Military Honor Guard at the Pine Lawn National Ceme-
tery in Farmingdale, Long Island; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Joseph Forte served as Advisor to Post 23
Explorer Scouts of America, and was a highly skilled shooter on both the
small bore and high power rifle teams, and was the Post Rifle Champion
for two years; as an expert, he held the position of Coach Instructor
for the West Point Boy's and Girl's NRA Rifle Club; and
WHEREAS, Immediately after joining Kingston Post No. 150, The American
Legion, Joseph Forte enlisted in the Color Guard, where he served as
Vice Commander for two years, Commander for two consecutive terms, Trus-
tee for five years, and Adjutant for three years, as well as Adjutant-
Treasurer for more than 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Along with his work with the American Legion, Joseph Forte
has held numerous leadership positions in the Disabled American Veterans
(DAV), Department of New York; for the past two decades he has served as
Bugler, Commander of Chapter 156 for two years, and Adjutant-Treasurer
for two years; for his dedication and faithful services to the DAV he
was awarded Life Member status; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Forte is also active in his local VFW Post No. 1386
where he has been the Bugler in its Military Honor Guard for more than
25 years; throughout his tenure, he has been actively involved in just
about every activity sponsored by the Post; for his exceptional
devotion, he was made a Life Member; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Joseph Forte was named a Life Member of his local
Vietnam Veterans of America organization; in recognition of his extraor-
dinary and tireless efforts to serve his fellow veterans, the New York
State Marine Corps League honored him by bestowing upon him the title of
Honorary Member; he was also the co-Chairman of his county's Vietnam
Memorial Committee which raised funds to erect a monument to the Vietnam
Veterans of Ulster County; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Forte personally raised money for that project by
walking the area highways looking for discarded cans and bottles that he
redeemed to support such a worthy public effort; additionally, he
participated in special committees of a Restoration Program created by
his American Legion Post to restore the World War II Community Monuments
throughout his city; and
WHEREAS, This exceptional man took it upon himself to supervise the
restoration of a specific cemetery in Kingston where there are over 25
black veterans interred, mostly from the Civil War period; he was
publicly honored by the Preservation League of the State of New York
with a Testimonial Dinner at the Bear Mountain Inn for his exceptional
efforts and accomplishments in bringing that overgrown cemetery back to
.SO DOC S R5795 RESO TEXT 2015
a place of beauty and respect; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the Kingston Veterans Association again honored
Joseph Forte for his many years of dedication to the veteran population
of his county by selecting him as its Veteran of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Forte further helped his fellow veterans and their
widows who had not switched over to the Veterans Alternative Tax
Exemption on their real property, and took complete charge of the hospi-
tal related equipment, controlled by the Kingston Legion Post and made
needed equipment available to those in need and he personally delivered
the same to their residence; and
WHEREAS, A true patriot, Joseph Forte was instrumental in seeing that
American Flags were donated to area schools and to homes with empty
flagpoles as part of the Legion's Americanism Programs; he was also
responsible for procuring a generous donation from the Kingston Legion
Post to the Kingston Hospital for the purchase of a Dialysis Machine;
and
WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, Joseph Forte has honored
every veterans organization by his invitation to play Taps at the Memo-

rial Service at the Franklin D. Roosevelt grave in Hyde Park, New York,
and was also invited by the United States Department of the Interior to
do the same at the Annual Memorial Service at the Roosevelt Estate
honoring POWs and MIAs; and
WHEREAS, As an outstanding member of his community, Joseph Forte has
graciously donated his time and energy to not only serving his fellow
veterans and their families, but the Ulster County population as a
whole; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which these men and women 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, Having exhibited their patriotism both at home and abroad,
these men and women demonstrated their love for their country and merit
forevermore, the highest respect of their State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended and
thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and for
their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Joseph Forte upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the Kingston Veterans Association on June 1, 2016; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joseph Forte.