New York K 1337: Welcoming members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association upon the auspicious occasion of their visit to the New York State Capitol on May 12, 2026, and paying tribute to Robert Firstman

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K01337 Summary:

BILL NOK01337 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORRamos

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSRBendett, Brown K, Eachus, Fitzpatrick, Griffin, Hawley, Hevesi, Hunter, Kassay, Lavine, Levenberg,
 Manktelow, McMahon, Meeks, O'Pharrow, Santabarbara, Sayegh, Slater, Steck, Stern, Taylor, Weprin

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Go to top K01337 Actions:

BILL NOK01337 

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05/12/2026introduced

05/12/2026adopted

Go to topK01337 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topK01337 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topK01337 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 2084

BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS

 WELCOMING members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial
 Association upon the auspicious occasion of their
 visit to the New York State Capitol on May 12, 2026,
 and paying tribute to Robert Firstman

 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor individuals and organizations whose purpose and actions strengthen
our shared commitment to remembrance, service, and the preservation of
history; and

 WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
welcome members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association (TRSMA) to
the New York State Capitol on Tuesday, May 12, 2026; and

 WHEREAS, The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association was formally
established in 1999, when its articles and by-laws were adopted,
defining its enduring mission and goals, including: continuing the
search for previously unidentified survivors and the families of those
who perished, in order to provide long-awaited information about their
loved ones; bringing the story of the Rohna before the public to honor
those who lost their lives and those who carried out heroic rescue
efforts; and fostering connection and fellowship among members through
reunions and ongoing communication; and

 WHEREAS, The legacy of the 1,015 American servicemembers who made
the ultimate sacrifice for the Nation, as well as those who survived the
attack on the HMT Rohna during World War II, must never be forgotten;
and

 WHEREAS, On November 26, 1943, the HMT Rohna, a requisitioned
passenger liner traveling in convoy KMF-26 in the Mediterranean Sea en
route to India, carried more than 2,000 crew members and troops when it
came under attack by German Luftwaffe bombers; and

 WHEREAS, During the attack, a radio-guided missile struck the
vessel, causing a catastrophic explosion and ultimately resulting in the
deaths of 1,015 American servicemembers and 134 British and Indian
crewmembers, marking the greatest loss of United States troops at sea
due to enemy action; and

 WHEREAS, Among those aboard was Robert Firstman, who would become
the last known survivor of the tragedy; and

 WHEREAS, Robert Firstman, who passed away on February 15, 2026, at
the age of 103, was born in 1923 in New York City to Russian immigrants,
raised in the Bronx, and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
in 1942 while a 19-year-old student at Brooklyn College; and

 WHEREAS, Serving as a Morse Code specialist with the 130th Army
Airways Communications System, Robert Firstman was among those aboard
the HMT Rohna when it was struck; he survived the sinking after hours in
the sea and was ultimately rescued by the USS Pioneer, later continuing

his service in the China-Burma-India Theater for the remainder of World
War II; and

 WHEREAS, For decades, the sinking of the HMT Rohna remained
classified, leaving families without answers and survivors unable to
speak of their experiences, until the story gradually became known
through the efforts of survivors and historians; and

 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body further recognizes that during their
visit to the New York State Capitol, members of the Rohna Survivors
Memorial Association will present a screening of the documentary Rohna:
Classified, a moving account of the tragedy and its legacy; and

 WHEREAS, The documentary was produced through the dedicated efforts
of Rohna author and past TRSMA President Michael Walsh in collaboration
with filmmaker Jack Ballo, following years of interviews with survivors
and their families; and

 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes this opportunity to honor the
memory of Robert Firstman, the last living survivor of the HMT Rohna,
and to commend