2015 -- S 0768

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LC002153

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR DAVID E. SMITH, UNITED

STATES ARMY, RETIRED, ON BEING NAMED THE "VETERAN OF THE YEAR" BY THE

UNITED VETERANS COUNCIL OF WOONSOCKET

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, and Cote

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, David E. Smith is a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Roger Williams

College, the Rhode Island School of Practical Nursing, Bryant College and the State of Rhode

Island Fire Academy. He began his distinguished military career in 1968 when he enlisted in the

United States Army. He served in the United States Army for more than forty years, rising to the

rank of Command Sergeant Major, and served our nation with honor, valor and distinction; and

     WHEREAS, Command Sergeant Major Smith deployed to Kuwait to support Operation

Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also deployed to serve in Desert Storm. In

his exemplary military career, Command Sergeant Major Smith received numerous awards and

decorations including the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal with

Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the

Army Achievement Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster (6th award), the National Defense

Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Silver Oak

Leaf and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Thirty Year

Hourglass Device and Two Bronze "M" Devices, the Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary

Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Medal, the Army Overseas Ribbon, the NCO Professional

Development Training Ribbon, Level Four, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve

Components Overseas Training Ribbon (3rd award), the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Medal, the Army Superior Unit Award, and the Expert Shooter Badge for the M-16 Rifle and the

9MM Pistol; and

     WHEREAS, Since his retirement from the military, Command Sergeant Major Smith has

worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans' causes and in support of numerous veterans'

organizations. He serves on the Permanent Advisory Council to the House Veterans' Affairs

Committee, where he offers a veteran's insight and perspective to proposed legislation. He is Co-

Chair of the Veterans' Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island, and oversees the rules and regulations

for the grounds and its daily maintenance. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Veterans' Home

Building Committee and has worked tireless in support of building a new Veterans' Home in

Bristol, Rhode Island. He also works closely with various veterans groups in ensuring that

veterans receive proper and prompt care at the Veterans' Hospital in Providence. He attends many

meetings, works to resolve disputes between patients and administrators, and tirelessly strives to

ensure that there are no shortfalls in supplies or equipment at the hospital; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Command Master Sergeant David E. Smith, United States Army, Retired,

on being named the "Veteran of the Year" by the United Veterans Council of Woonsocket. We

thank him for his service to our nation and we thank him for all he has done since his retirement

from the military in support of veterans' causes; 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 Command Sergeant Major David E. Smith,

United States Army, Retired.

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LC002153

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