Senate Resolution No. 4961

BY: Senator TEDISCO

COMMENDING Daniel Izzo 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, 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, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Daniel
Izzo 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, Daniel Izzo of Mayfield, New York, is a retired United
States Navy SEAL Master Chief who served our country with honor and
valor for 28 years; and

WHEREAS, As an elite Navy SEAL, Daniel Izzo completed a dozen major
deployments to a variety of countries including Afghanistan, Iraq,
Kuwait, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Liberia; throughout his esteemed military
career, he has earned over 45 combined service awards, most notably two
Bronze Star Medals, one with the combat "V" distinction for valor and
three separate Combat Action Awards; and

WHEREAS, Daniel Izzo was selected as one of just 22 Navy SEALs to
participate in a pilot program which laid the ground work for how the
SEALs would fight the Global War on Terror; this program involved
sending two-man teams into foreign countries which had a strong Al-Qaeda
presence; many of the missions Daniel participated in remain highly
classified; and

WHEREAS, During a combat deployment in Afghanistan, Daniel Izzo's
team came under attack from rocket fire; with total disregard for his
own safety, Daniel manned a MK-19 grenade launcher and returned fire in
order to suppress the enemy and single-handedly stopped the attack,
saving the lives of numerous coalition members; for his courage and
selflessness, he received the Bronze Star; and

WHEREAS, Daniel Izzo received a second Bronze Star for his
leadership of a 236-man Navy SEAL counter insurgency unit and for
commanding a 23-day-long combat operation in Northern Iraq where his
team removed 36 enemy insurgents from the battlefield; and


WHEREAS, While deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Daniel Izzo worked
directly with the United States Secret Service to provide security for
Former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton when they
visited American service members; in 1996, Daniel helped recover the
remains of 34 passengers, including United States Secretary of Commerce
Ron Brown, when their aircraft crashed into a mountainside in Croatia;
and

WHEREAS, In addition, Daniel Izzo's team safely evacuated American
personnel and their families from the American Embassy in Monrovia,
Liberia, while under continuous exposure from rebels to small arms gun
fire and rocket propelled grenades; and

WHEREAS, Daniel Izzo was selected as the 1999 Navy SEAL of the Year,
and was inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Today, Daniel Izzo serves as the Undersheriff for the
Fulton County Sheriff's Office; 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 his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Daniel Izzo demonstrated his love for his country and merits
forevermore, the highest respect of his 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 Daniel Izzo 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 be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Daniel Izzo.