J 1184: Commemorating the life and service of World War II Veteran Private Harland J. Hennessey

 Senate Resolution No. 1184 BY: Senator GRIFFO COMMEMORATING the life and service of World War II Veteran Private Harland J. Hennessey 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 commemorate the life and service of World War II Veteran Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey posthumously upon the occasion of the identification and return of his remains to the United States; and WHEREAS, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Washington, D.C. recently announced that the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey were identified on September 23, 2024; and WHEREAS, Harland J. Hennessey, born on September 1, 1918, enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, and was a member of the 803rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation stationed in the Philippines, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December of 1942; and WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey was captured by enemy forces and held as a prisoner of war when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese; and WHEREAS, Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and interned at prisoner of war (POW) camps; Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey and other POWs were forced into the 65-mile Bataan Death March and then held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1; and WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey died on November 1, 1942, at the early age of 24, and was one of more than 2,500 POWs who perished in the camp; and WHEREAS, The cause of the brave veteran's death was Beriberi-a disease brought on by an insufficient diet and the exertion of walking in the death march; Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey was buried in a common grave in the Philippines; and WHEREAS, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the gravesite there in 2018 and Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey's remains were finally identified with the help of a DNA sample provided by his nephew, John Hennessey of Boonville, New Yor; and WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey's name is memorialized on the Cabanatuan Memorial in the Philippines that was erected by survivors of the Bataan Death March and the prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan; he is also listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines; and WHEREAS, Other descendants of Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey still in the Boonville area include his niece, Patricia Hennessey-John Hennessey's sister; and John's wife, Sue, with whom he has three children and 11 grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Upon the return of his remains home, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey will be buried with his parents, Howard and Dorothy Hennessey, in the Boonville Cemetery; and WHEREAS, The VFW Post which was named in this distinguished veteran's honor also intends to host a celebration in honor of this momentous occasion which will bring closure to the veteran's family and friends; 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, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey 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 commemorate the life and service of World War II Veteran Private Harland J. Hennessey; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Private Harland J. Hennessey.