LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ron Lewis upon the occasion of his
designation as the recipient of the Jewish War Veterans of the United
States Post No. 105's 2013 Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energy and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Ron Lewis has given not only of his time and energy but also
of his competence, intelligence and leadership and, consequently, has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Ron Lewis upon
the occasion of his designation as the recipient of the Jewish War
Veterans of the United States of America Post No. 105's 2013 Four
Chaplains Brotherhood Award; and
WHEREAS, The Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award is given annually to an
individual for outstanding participation and service in activities which
exemplify the principles of brotherhood; and
WHEREAS, The Four Chaplains gave their lives in the sinking of the
troopship Dorchester on February 3, 1943; the Brotherhood Award honors
residents of the Capital District whose services and devotion in the
practice of brotherhood are deserving of recognition; and
WHEREAS, Ron Lewis will be the 48th recipient of Post 105's Four
Chaplains Brotherhood Award which will proudly be presented to him at a
ceremony to be held at the Samuel S. Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical
Center Chapel on Sunday, February 17, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Ron Lewis is the President of Patriot Flight Inc., an organ-
ization which flies WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the WWII
and Korean War Memorials and has flown well over 500 WWII veterans there
to see and experience the Memorials; and
WHEREAS, Ron Lewis is an active member of both the Sons of the Ameri-
can Legion and the Colonie VFW #8692 Men's Auxiliary; he is President of
Rolling Thunder New York Chapter 5, which promotes veterans' issues and
legislation associated with veterans; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Ron Lewis volunteered working for Home-4-Joe, an
effort in which he led local fundraising partners and raised over
$40,000 to assist in the building of a home for Tec. Sgt. Joe Wilkinson,
a 31-year-old Air Force Veteran, husband, and father of three, who
suffers with a compromised spinal cord and leg paralysis, who was able
to move into the new residence built for him and his family in Averill
Park, New York in December 2012; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Ron Lewis has displayed throughout
his life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the vitality and well-being of their community and its citizens,
and have shown a long and sustained commitment to humanitarianism, have
certainly 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
commend Ron Lewis upon the occasion of his designation as the recipient
of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Post No.
105's 2013 Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award on February 17, 2013; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ron Lewis.