Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 22, 2026, as Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1553

BY: M. of A. Rules (Stern)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        September 22, 2026, as  Veterans  Suicide  Awareness
        and Remembrance Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days and months that are set aside  to  increase  awareness  of
serious  mental  health  issues that affect the lives of citizens of New
York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it  is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim  September  22,  2026,  as
Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in the State of New York,
in conjunction with the observance of September 2026 as National Suicide
Prevention Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Established  to  recognize  the  life  and death of Senior
Airman Robert McRae Dean and every veteran and  active  military  member
who has died by suicide, Veterans Suicide Awareness Day is also meant to
elevate the issue in the public consciousness and to focus on prevention
efforts; and

  WHEREAS,  The  United  States  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs has
previously reported that an average  of  22  veterans  per  day  die  by
suicide; and

  WHEREAS,  The  rate  of  suicide among veterans was 1.4 times higher
among male veterans and 1.8 times  higher  among  female  veterans  when
compared to the general adult population; and

  WHEREAS,  In 2022, New York veterans died by suicide at nearly twice
the rate of the  general  population,  and  the  veterans  suicide  rate
increased by 2.6%; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  urges all New Yorkers to remember
that many of the wounds of war are unseen and persist long after the end
of a veteran's military service; and

  WHEREAS, Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance  Day  honors  the
fallen  and  their  families by bringing awareness to this serious issue
and commemorating their service to their State and Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Veteran suicide must be talked about in order to remove the
stigma surrounding it; by normalizing  an  otherwise  taboo  subject  of
mental  health among veterans and active military, veterans in need will
hopefully seek out the care they need without fear of judgment,  thereby
leading to a reduction of suicides; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  imperative that there be greater awareness of this
mental health condition, and more must be done to increase  activity  at
the local, State, and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate September  22,  2026,  as  Veterans  Suicide  Awareness  and
Remembrance Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York;  and  Commissioner  Viviana  DeCohen, New York State Department of
Veterans' Services.