Senators Brooks, Kaplan, and AM Sillitti Honor WWII Vet & Former NYS Supreme Court Justice Leonard Finz

Manhasset, NY – New York State Senators John Brooks (SD8) and Anna Kaplan (SD7), and Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (AD16) were on hand to celebrate the service of Judge Leonard Finz as he was inducted into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame. Judge Finz, a retired New York State Supreme Court Justice, served his country honorably as 1^st Lt, Field Artillery in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was awarded with the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious and Outstanding service. On Saturday, July 23, 2022, just shy of his 98^th birthday, Judge Finz was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame.

The United States Army's Officer Candidate School is an officer candidate school located at Fort Benning, Georgia, that trains, assesses, and evaluates potential commissioned officers of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. Annual inductions into the OCS Hall of Fame are based on accomplishments that include superior valorous combat leadership, superior meritorious service, as well as public- and life-long service to their community and nation. Previous inductees include Senator Bob Dole, General Tommy Franks, Caspar Weinberger, Former Secretary of Defense; General John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Winthrop Rockefeller, former Arkansas Governor; William Buckley Jr., iconic author and activist; among other prominent Americans who graduated from Officer Candidate School. 

New York State Senate and Assembly Resolutions were passed to honor Judge Finz’ service to his country and framed copies were presented to him at the ceremony by Brooks, Kaplan, and Sillitti. 

Senator John Brooks said “As a young man, Lt. Leonard Finz led his artillery battery into combat to serve and protect his nation. Today we have the honor to recognize Judge Leonard Finz for a lifetime of devoted service. He is an icon of his generation and a role model for others to follow”

Senator Anna M. Kaplan said “As a State Senator, I’m privileged to meet a lot of dedicated and accomplished individuals from across the State, but few rise to the level of dedication and accomplishment of the Honorable Leonard Finz, who answered the call to serve our great nation during WWII and went on to a have a long and proud career of superior service to our community. I was honored to pass a Resolution in the New York State Senate earlier this year to recognize Judge Finz for his service, and it was a joy to present it to him upon his induction into the US Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame this weekend.”

Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti said “I can think of no one who deserves this honor more than the Honorable Leonard Finz as the living embodiment of the Greatest Generation. His induction into the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame is yet another testament to his outstanding character. It was truly my honor to have had the opportunity to get to know Judge Finz and seeing the community come out so strongly to attend his induction ceremony is just a small example of his legacy and the high regard in which his friends, family, and the community holds him in.”