Commending Private Leonard Cesternino 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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michelle Hinchey

Posthumously commends Private Leonard Cesternino for the Liberty Medal, publicly honoring his service; the Senate records the tribute with a ceremonial resolution.

ADOPTED

Overview

Bill J 20 is a New York State Senate resolution that commends Private Leonard Cesternino posthumously on his designation as a recipient of the Liberty Medal, described as the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate. The primary sponsor is Michelle Hinchey.

Bill type: Resolution (ceremonial)

Status: ADOPTED

Introduced: January 9, 2025

Current status: Adopted by the Senate

Primary sponsor: Senator Michelle Hinchey

Purpose and Intent

To publicly honor and recognize the life, service, and achievements of Private Leonard Cesternino after his designation as a Liberty Medal recipient.

To acknowledge the Liberty Medal as the Senate’s highest honor and to highlight Cesternino’s contributions as the basis for ceremonial commendation.

To commemorate the occasion in official legislative records and communicate the recognition to the public and to Cesternino’s family.

Key Provisions (What the bill would do)

Posthumous commendation of Private Leonard Cesternino upon his designation as a Liberty Medal recipient.

Public expression of the Senate's respect and gratitude for Cesternino’s service.

Authorization for the formal presentation of the resolution as an official traceable record of recognition.

(Implied) Transmission of the resolution to appropriate recipients (e.g., family) and inclusion in the official journals or records of the Senate.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Individual: Private Leonard Cesternino (posthumous recipient of the Liberty Medal).

Family and associates: Receives formal recognition through the resolution.

New York State Senate and public: Receives ceremonial acknowledgment of Cesternino’s contributions and the Liberty Medal designation.

Legislative records: The resolution becomes part of the official record and history of the Senate’s honors.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduced: January 9, 2025 (referred to Finance).

January 9, 2025 actions: Referred to Finance (listed twice in the actions).

January 14, 2025 actions: Reported to calendar for consideration (listed twice) and adopted (listed twice).

Current status: Adopted as a resolution on January 14, 2025.

Fiscal note/finance: As a ceremonial resolution, typically carries no direct fiscal impact; the reference to Finance indicates standard procedural review, though no budgetary provisions are expected to accompany this measure.

Additional Notes

The bill’s primary purpose is ceremonial and symbolic, not corrective or regulatory.

The designation of the Liberty Medal as “the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New York State Senate” positions this resolution as the formal recognition of Cesternino’s achievement within the Senate’s honors framework.

Bill