Senate Resolution No. 3685

BY: Senator KENNEDY

HONORING Russell J. Salvatore upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the
highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Russell J.
Salvatore upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a Liberty
Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York
State Senate; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, Russell J. Salvatore is a member of his community and
genuinely lends all of his efforts to numerous worthy causes; his
proudest accomplishment was the creation of Patriots and Heroes Park, a
three acre parcel which provides the residents of the Buffalo area with
an "Oasis to Reflect"; the Park is home to a post 9-11 memorial, a
Flight 3407 memorial, a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and
a World War II Memorial entitled "Battle of the Bulge and a Tribute to
America"; and

WHEREAS, Russell J. Salvatore served his country as a member of the
United States Army from 1954 to 1956; he established the Purple Heart
Memorial for which he was proudly presented with the National Commanders
Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Military Order of the Purple
Heart and worked with the Olmstead conservancy to honor the fallen
heroes of the War of 1812; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to his fellow veterans, Russell J. Salvatore
sponsored a free Veterans Day concert featuring the Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra, and donated 10 new transportation vans to the Buffalo
Veterans Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, this genuine humanitarian who has been serving
people for 68 years, has graciously given of his resources and time to
the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy
Association, Western New York Heroes, Roswell Park, The Variety Club of
Buffalo, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Western New York, the Boys and
Girls Clubs, The Heritage Center, Juvenile Diabetes of Buffalo, the
Heritage House, Women & Children's Hospital, the Italian American

Federation, the Erie County Medical Center, University at Buffalo School
of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, The
Brothers of Mercy Rehabilitation Center, and the Women and Children's
Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Russell J. Salvatore also offered his hotel, Salvatore's
Garden Place Hotel, to drivers who were involved in a multi-vehicle
pileup due to white-out conditions on the Thruway on Tuesday, January 2,
2018; the Transit Road hotel served as a temporary shelter for about 50
people who were bused in from the accident; the hotel staff provided
them with warm blankets, water, hot chocolate and shelter for as long as
they needed; and

WHEREAS, Russell J. Salvatore is a supporter of local school
districts including Lancaster, Williamsville, Amherst and Clarence; he
was also a vital part of a district wide capital campaign to improve
facilities at every school within his hometown districts of Depew and
Lancaster; and

WHEREAS, A supporter of higher education, Russell J. Salvatore lent
his support to the education of our future leaders by donating The
Russell J Salvatore Demonstration Kitchen and Learning Lab at Buffalo
State College and the Russell J Salvatore Student Center at Niagara
University; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown 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 Russell J. Salvatore upon the occasion of his designation as a
recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Russell J. Salvatore.