2014 -- H 7966

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LC004697

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Ministry at LaSalette in North Attleboro, Massachusetts; and

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

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

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

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

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and

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lantern Award; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

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LC004697

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