BILL NUMBER: S9729A
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to Donald Roy McAnn
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To dedicate a Portion of the state highway system to be dedicated to
World War II veteran Donald Roy McAnn. The portion of state highway
constituting state route nine hundred forty-one A, known as Latta Road
in the town of Greece, County of Monroe, beginning at its intersection
with Dewey Avenue, continuing east till its intersection with Fairway
Drive, shall be dedicated to Donald Roy McAnn.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 outlines the portion of highway to be renamed.
Section 2 outlines that the renaming is ceremonial, and that the commis-
sioner of transportation shall install and maintain the signage for the
designation.
Section 3 is the effective date.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION:
The amended version of this bill changed the section of state highway to
be dedicated to WWII Veteran Donald Roy McAnn.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
On October 26, 1942, during the battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in the
Pacific Theater, Donald Roy McAnn lost his life while selflessly and
courageously defending American freedom.
A lifelong resident of Greece, Donald Roy McAnn was born June 23, 1911.
He worked for years at Eastman Kodak Company prior to the war in the
Sensitive Paper Packing Department.
On August 16, 1932, McAnn enlisted in the Navy Reserves while working at
Kodak. He continued as a reservist until 1940 when he was called for
active military service. In the early months of the war, he was
stationed on the USS Enterprise as a Gunner's Mate First Class.
On October 26, 1942, McAnn's ship, the USS Enterprise was called into
battle against Japanese forces in the crucial battle over the Santa Cruz
Islands as part of the Guadalcanal Campaign. During the battle, McAnn
was tasked with taking photographs of enemy forces for crucial intelli-
gence purposes. While executing this duty in an exposed position of the
ship during the battle, he disregarded his personal safety for a higher
cause, and showed bravery beyond that of many in a similar situation.
After taking these crucial photographs, McAnn helped render aid and
assistance to the ship's gun crew. While relieving one of the gunners,
McAnn was hit with a bomb shrapnel that had hit the ship. He was killed
in action. McAnn was buried at sea.
The photographs McAnn took in the face of danger were found to be essen-
tial to US war efforts and provided valuable intelligence against Japa-
nese forces in the Pacific.
For his bravery and sacrifice in defense of the United States, McAnn was
awarded the Navy Cross posthumously. This honor is the highest award for
a naval officer, second only to the Medal of Honor. In 1943, the Secre-
tary of the Navy, Frank Knox, ordered that a ship be named after McAnn
and invited his widow to sponsor and launch the vessel. The USS McAnn, a
Cannon-class Destroyer, served until 1944 as an escort against submarine
and air attacks on US vessels on the Coastal United States and in the
Caribbean. The ship in 1944 was decommissioned from US service, sold to
Brazil, and was used by the Brazilian military. It is now a museum ship
preserved by the Brazilian Navy's Cultural Center in Rio de Janeiro.
McAnn was one of 32 Greece, New York residents to give their lives as
part of the US efforts to win World War II. His extraordinary acts of
sacrifice, courage, and selflessness serve as exceptional examples of
American patriotism and service towards a higher calling.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.