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.
