2014 -- H 7966

========

LC004697

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING FATHER PHILIP G. SALOIS FOR RECEIVING THE VETERAN OF

THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2014 FROM THE UNITED VETERANS' COUNCIL OF

WOONSOCKET

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Phillips, Abney, Azzinaro, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Father Philip G. Salois currently serves as Chief Chaplain for the Veterans'

Administration Boston Healthcare System, Chaplain for the VA New England Healthcare

System, and President of the Lincoln Vietnam Veterans' Post 818. Father Salois was honored by

the United Veterans' Council of Woonsocket for his lifelong work in helping Vietnam veterans

and their families to overcome the trauma that results from combat and loss of life; and

     WHEREAS, Before becoming a Priest, Father Salois served in Vietnam with the 199th

Light Infantry Brigade. Armed only with a grenade launcher, he and a buddy braved the front and

enemy fire to rescue comrades, despite the grave danger they faced. "Bringing bodies home, alive

or not, was the objective." In the midst of all this chaos, confusion, violence and death, Philip G.

Salois made a promise to himself that if he returned home without injury, he would acknowledge

his destiny to God, and spend the rest of his life serving God, the Church and humanity; and

     WHEREAS, Five years later, Salois answered the calling. After receiving the Silver Star

for combat duty and his military service, Salois left the United States Army to join the Catholic

Ministry at LaSalette in North Attleboro, Massachusetts; and

     WHEREAS, Father Salois has over 44 years of exposure to combat stress, beginning with

his own six-year experience in Vietnam, and through his service from 1984 to the present-day as

a Priest helping those, like himself, who faced combat. Father Salois has also been a board

certified expert in traumatic stress since 2001, and is fluent in French and semi-fluent in Spanish;

and

     WHEREAS, Father Salois has served as National Chaplain to the Vietnam Veterans of

America organization since 1994, and as Massachusetts Department Chaplain to the American

Legion since 1993. Other organizations for which Father Salois is a well-known supporter include

AMVETS, Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Knights of Columbus, Military

Chaplains Association, National Association of Veterans' Affairs Chaplains, National Conference

of Veterans' Affairs Catholic Chaplains, and the Reserve Officers Association; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to receiving the prestigious Silver Star, Father Salois has

received numerous other military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat

Infantryman's Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the

Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army

Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense

Service Medal, and the DAV Distinguished VA Employee of the Year Award; and

     WHEREAS, Father Salois has also received numerous clergy awards including being the

National Recipient of the Celtic Cross Award from the Catholic Veterans of America, the Life

Achievement Award for Outstanding Service to the Veteran Community from Vietnamese-

American Veterans of New England and Canada, the Veterans' Affairs Chaplain of the Year

Award from the Military Chaplains Associations, the Chapel of Four Chaplains Humanitarian

Award, the Chaplain of Four Chaplains Bronze Medallion Award, and the Knights of Columbus

Lantern Award; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Father Philip G. Salois for receiving the Veteran of

the Year Award for 2014 from the United Veterans' Council of Woonsocket; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Father Philip G. Salois.

========

LC004697

========

LC004697 - Page 2 of 2