Commending Charles F. Wanits 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

Senate Resolution No. 2360

BY: Senator TEDISCO

        COMMENDING Charles F. Wanits 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 Charles F.
Wanits 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; this momentous occasion will be celebrated at the
Saratoga  County  Honor  Our  Deceased  Veterans  Ceremony to be held on
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the Saratoga County Building in Ballston Spa,
New York; and 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,  Charles  F.  Wanits  was  born  on  December  16, 1952, in
Rockville Centre, New York, to Frank and Alice Wanits; during his youth,
his family relocated to  Schroon  Lake,  New  York,  where  he  attended
Schroon  Lake  High  School  and  developed  the  values  of  hard work,
integrity, and service that would guide him throughout his life; and

  WHEREAS, Answering the call of duty, Charles F. Wanits  enlisted  in
the  United  States  Air  Force  on September 14, 1971, and trained as a
Weapons Mechanic; and

  WHEREAS, During his honorable military service,  Charles  F.  Wanits
served  at  air  bases  in  Thailand in support of operations during the
Vietnam War and was later assigned to  the  81st  Munitions  Maintenance
Squadron  in  England;  he concluded his military service at McGuire Air
Force Base in New Jersey; and

  WHEREAS, On July 6, 1975, Charles F. Wanits was honorably discharged
from the United States Air Force  with  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  having
faithfully served his nation with distinction and professionalism; and

  WHEREAS,  In recognition of his dedicated military service, Sergeant
Charles F. Wanits was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the
Air Force Good Conduct Medal; and

  WHEREAS, Following his military service, Charles F. Wanits continued
to contribute to the security and defense  of  the  Nation  through  his
employment  as  a  Quality Control Specialist at the Watervliet Arsenal,
where he served with distinction until his retirement; and

  WHEREAS, Demonstrating remarkable ingenuity and technical expertise,
Charles F. Wanits was credited in 1994 with the invention  of  the  Bore
Obstruction  Detection  Indicator, a device positioned on the muzzle end
of a gun bore to indicate whether the  bore  is  free  from  obstruction
after  a  round  has  been  loaded,  enhancing  safety  and  operational
readiness; and

  WHEREAS, In 1989, Charles F. Wanits married the love  of  his  life,
Lisa, and together they raised their daughter, Lyndsey; he was a devoted
husband and father who cherished time with his family; and

  WHEREAS,  Charles F. Wanits found great enjoyment in fishing and was
an enthusiastic fan of football and NASCAR, pursuits that reflected  his
appreciation for camaraderie, competition, and the outdoors; and

  WHEREAS,  A resident of the Town of Milton, Charles F. Wanits earned
the admiration and respect  of  all  who  knew  him  through  his  quiet
dedication,  strong work ethic, and steadfast commitment to both country
and community; and

  WHEREAS, Charles F. Wanits passed away  on  July  2,  2023,  leaving
behind   a   legacy   of   honorable   military   service,  professional
accomplishment, innovation, and devotion to family; 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 risked 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,
Charles F. Wanits 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  Charles  F.  Wanits  posthumously  upon  the  occasion  of  his
designation as recipient of the New York State Senate 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 Charles F. Wanits.