“For nearly 250 years, our country has had the great fortune of being protected by millions of selfless Americans prepared to give their lives in defense of our country. It is incumbent upon every American to pay tribute to all of those heroes on Memorial Day.

“As a veteran myself and a member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I remain absolute in my commitment to fighting for veterans and their families. I am proud that I was able to secure funding for the Joseph P. Dwyer Program in the state budget, which provides peer to peer counseling for veterans and honors one of Nassau County’s finest veterans.

“During this holiday weekend, I hope that all New Yorkers will take a moment to say a prayer for those families still struggling with the loss of a service member in the line of duty, and also to pray for those who currently serve to ensure that this nation’s freedoms and civil liberties remain secure.”