House Passes Bill To Name Suffern Post Office After Nyack Hero

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — An act of Congress will memorialize a local hero for generations to come.

U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones (D-NY) announced the House passage of his legislation last week to designate a post office in New York’s 17th Congressional District after Sergeant Gerald T. “Jerry” Donnellan, a veteran from Nyack, who served in Vietnam and earned three Purple Hearts.

Rep. Jones took to the House floor to speak in support of the bill which he originally introduced in December 2021. The late Sergeant Donnellan led a life of service to others, both in the military and as an advocate for veterans health care and wellbeing later in his life.

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The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Once passed and signed into law, the legislation will rename the post office at 15 Chestnut Street in Suffern the "Sergeant Gerald T. 'Jerry' Donnellan Post Office."

"Sergeant Donnellan never relented in his advocacy for our veterans and their families," said Rep. Jones. "He embodied selflessness as a soldier and a civilian, treating every veteran — and every person — with the respect and dignity they deserve. Today, we honor Sergeant Donnellan’s life and legacy. His commitment to serving our country and our fellow Americans should inspire us all."

Congressman Jones’ remarks can be viewed here.

Transcript: Floor Speech by Congressman Mondaire Jones on “Jerry” Donnellan

September 28, 2022

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you Mr. Speaker.

I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6267, to designate the post office located at 15 Chestnut Street in Suffern, New York as the Sergeant Gerald T. “Jerry” Donnellan Post Office.

I am humbled to honor the late Sergeant Jerry Donnellan, whose memory brings great pride to all of us in New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Mr. Donnellan was a Valley Cottage native, and a three-time Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Sergeant. During an ambush, he was wounded and lost his lower right leg to a grenade. He underwent countless surgeries and extensive physical therapy before returning home to Rockland County in 1970.

Against all odds, Mr. Donnellan persevered – he learned to walk again alongside his newborn son. He even pursued his passion for theater and built a successful career as a stage manager for nearly two decades, including for Frank Sinatra.

But he never lost his love for public service. In 1986, when he learned of high rates of servicemember and veteran suicides, Mr. Donnellan was moved. He became a veterans counselor at Rockland County’s Veterans Agency Office. And in 1992, he was appointed Rockland County’s Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.

During his tenure, Sergeant Donnellan created Local Chapter 333 of the Vietnam Veterans of America and started a veterans health clinic. He helped create Camp Shanks Museum in the Town of Orangetown and established the Rockland County Buffalo Soldiers Award to recognize the contributions of Black veterans. He helped start the Memorial Day Watchfires in 1987, the year I was born, and established the Rockland County Public Service Medal to honor those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Sergeant Donnellan never relented in his advocacy for our veterans and their families. He embodied selflessness as a soldier and a civilian, treating every veteran — and every person — with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Today, we honor Sergeant Donnellan’s life and his legacy. His commitment to serving our country and our fellow Americans should inspire us all.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Madam Chair, I yield back.