[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      50TH ANNIVERSARY NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 1995
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize the 50th anniversary of the New York State Division of 
Veterans' Affairs, which formally occurred April 11 and will be 
celebrated May 9 in Albany. Like divisions of veteran's affairs all 
over the country, the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs 
provides essential services and support to New York's 1.6 million 
veterans. In New York's First Congressional District in eastern Long 
Island, we are especially thankful for these 50 great years of work, as 
we have the largest concentration of veterans in the Nation.
  And to those who have worked in the division of veterans' affairs all 
of these years, the respect is mutual. For New York's veterans, like 
all of America's veterans, are the ones who have kept us all safe and 
secure so that we could enjoy the fruits of our great democracy. They 
fought our enemies in two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf 
and numerous other military conflicts. They are the ones who have been 
out there every day during peacetime, patrolling the seas and skies, 
manning potential front lines and preparing to fight again if the need 
should arise. We owe our vets everything, Mr. Speaker.
  And the New York Division of Veterans' Affairs has been in the 
forefront of efforts to provide these men and women the benefits they 
need and deserve. I commend and thank them for all of their service.
  I would also like to bring to the House's attention the New York 
division's new director, an old and dear friend of mine, Mr. John L. 
Behan, who will be sworn in at the anniversary celebration next 
Tuesday.
  John is a Marine Corps veteran who served with distinction in 
Vietnam. In 1966, my good friend was severely wounded after engaging 
the enemy while on patrol near Da Nang. For his bravery, he was 
decorated seven times and received New York State's highest military 
honor, the Conspicuous Service Cross. John suffered the loss of both 
legs in the incident and was honorably discharged in 1967.
  John's spirit never died, though, and he learned to walk and much, 
much more with the use of artificial limbs. Always an athlete, John 
achieved a position on the U.S. Wheelchair Olympic Team a few years 
later. In 1976 he captained the amputee team and won several medals, 
including three golds, at the first International Games for the 
Disabled.
  Having conquered the sporting world, in 1978 John entered State 
politics and was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he 
served until he was appointed by Governor Pataki as director of the New 
York State Division of Veterans' Affairs in February.
  I would like to thank the New York State Division of Veterans' 
Affairs and their new director, John Behan, for their service to our 
Nation's heroes, of which John is one. They provide an irreplaceable 
service to our community and we are indebted to them.
Vol. 141


WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1995

No. 71


House of Representatives