Senate Resolution No. 2374

BY: Senator JORDAN

COMMENDING Kenneth H. Wilber posthumously 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, 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 peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Kenneth H.
Wilber posthumously 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, Kenneth Harry Wilber was born on February 5, 1946, to
Charles L. Wilber and Bernice V. (Akin) Wilber in Hudson, New York; he
attended Chatham Central School, Class of 1963, before graduating from
Albany Business College in 1965; and

WHEREAS, On October 20, 1965, Kenneth H. Wilber entered the United
States Navy in Albany, New York; after completing basic training, he
attended additional training at Ellison Field, Pensacola, Florida; he
was then assigned to the USS Navasota (AO-106) in Long Beach,
California; and

WHEREAS, His deployment in the Western Pacific with the USS Navasota
from January 5, 1968 to August 1, 1968, and then again from February 24,
1969 to September 13, 1969, took him to the South China Sea and the Sea
of Japan; and

WHEREAS, On January 23, 1968, the USS Navasota was ordered to assist
the USS Pueblo, a Navy Intelligence vessel that had been intercepted by
the North Koreans while engaged in a routine surveillance in
international waters; it would take 11 months of captivity, amid
brutality and threats of execution, before the crew of the USS Pueblo
were released; and

WHEREAS, Attaining the rank of YN3, he was honorably discharged on
October 19, 1971; for his courageous service, YN3 Kenneth H. Wilber
received many awards, including: Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), and the Vietnam
Campaign Medal; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his service, Kenneth H. Wilber
returned home and met and married the former Jeannette Lauster, and
together they had two children, Tracy and Kyle; and

WHEREAS, For 30 years, Kenneth H. Wilber was employed at Columbia
Corporation in Chatham, New York; and

WHEREAS, A respected community leader, Kenneth H. Wilber was elected
as the Ghent Town Councilman, serving from 1980 until 1981; Ghent
Supervisor from 1980 until 1992; and Columbia County Treasurer from 1996
until 2011; and

WHEREAS, Active in his community, Kenneth H. Wilber was a member of
the Ghent VFW No. 5933 (commander, post quartermaster), Ghent Marching
and Concert Band, Chatham American Legion Post 42, 3rd District New York
Veterans of Foreign Wars (past commander), Rip Van Winkle Counties
Council Veterans of Foreign Wars (past commander), Columbia County
Honor-A-Vet (chairman), Congressional Military Academy Selection
Committee for 18 years, Ghent Volunteer Fire Company (president, board
of directors, chaplain), Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters
Association, Columbia Greene Community College Board of Trustees, and
Chatham Christ Our Emmanuel Lutheran Church (treasurer/councilman); and

WHEREAS, Kenneth H. Wilber died on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at
the age of 74, and is buried in the family plot in Ghent Union Cemetery;
he is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jeannette; his two children,
Tracy Muller and Kyle Wilbur; and his four grandchildren, Troy, Regan,
Owen, and Riley; and

WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Kenneth H. Wilber 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 Kenneth H. Wilber posthumously 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 the family of Kenneth H. Wilber.