AMEDORE, CAHILL BILL TO NAME HIGHWAY IN HONOR OF FALLEN ULSTER COUNTY SOLDIER SIGNED INTO LAW

 A portion of State Route 32 in Ulster County will be designated as the “Private First Class Douglas Cordo Memorial Highway” under a law, sponsored by Senator George Amedore and Assemblymember Kevin Cahill, that was signed by Governor Cuomo today.

 Senator George Amedore said, “Private First Class Douglas Cordo put duty, honor, and love of country above all else, and renaming this piece of highway in his memory will ensure that his legacy is remembered by all who drive it. PFC Cordo served our nation and sacrificed his life on our behalf and this is a way to recognize his service and honor his memory. I want to thank Rolling Thunder, PFC Cordo's family, and Assemblymember Cahill for working together to ensure the legacy of this brave soldier will endure in Ulster County, and I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill."

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill said, "It’s a tragedy to lose someone so young. Doug was a friend to many and thoroughly loved to make people laugh, especially children. He had his whole life ahead of him and though he knew the risk he was taking, Doug Cordo gave his life for the greater good of mankind. I am honored to be a sponsor of this legislation and I am proud of it becoming law. Our entire community and state are grateful to PFC Cordo and his family for his ultimate sacrifice."

The portion of highway to be designated begins at the intersection of State Route 32 and Route 9W in the Town of Ulster and runs north to the intersection of State Route 32 and Route 9W in the town of Saugerties.

Private First Class Douglas L. Cordo was killed in action in August of 2011 when an improvised explosive device detonated while his unit patrolled the Abul Province village of Shah Joy in Afghanistan. After graduation from Kingston High School in 2009, he briefly attended SUNY Ulster before joining the United States Army in March 2010. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1stStryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and was deployed to Afghanistan for a yearlong tour in March 2011.

The request for the legislation came from PFC Cordo’s mother, Tracy Karson, and members of Rolling Thunder, Chapter 3 Street Memorial Program. A dedication ceremony will be planned in the coming weeks.

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