2016 -- S 2006

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE WARDWELL FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER GEORGE ARTHUR WARDWELL, USN RET.

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Paiva Weed, Lombardi, Walaska, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2016

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, George Arthur Wardwell was born on June 1, 1942, in Bath, Maine, and

was a 1960 graduate of Walter Gardner High School in Bucksport, Maine. He began his

distinguished thirty-two year military career in January of 1961 when he enlisted in the United

States Navy. During his four years of active duty, he was assigned to the USS Canberra, serving

in both the Mediterranean Sea and in Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. He later served

on the USS Bridget during its tenure in the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam; and

     WHEREAS, Chief Petty Officer Wardwell transferred to the Naval Reserve after

completing active duty status, and served our nation for twenty-eight more years with honor and

distinction, on numerous ships including the USS Tills, USS Holder, USS Edson, USS Valdez

and the USS Falcon. He retired after thirty-two years of service with the rank of Radioman Chief

Petty Officer. He also had an exemplary forty year career with the US Civil Service as a

Telecommunications Specialist at the Naval Communications Station in Newport, Rhode Island,

and received numerous civilian awards; and

     WHEREAS, During his meritorious military career, Chief Petty Officer Wardwell

received numerous medals and commendations including, the Navy Achievement Medal, the

Good Conduct Medal, the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Expeditionary

Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3 Stars),

the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Gold Hourglass), and the Military

Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He was also authorized to wear the Navy "E" Ribbon, the

Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, the Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon, and the Navy

and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Wardwell was a devoted supporter of numerous military and veterans

causes. He was Past President, BMCM Edmund Couto Chapter, of the Naval Reserve

Association, Past President, Chapter 79, of the Retired Enlisted Association, Commander, Post

18, of the American Legion, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Second County Commander of the

American Legion, Department of Rhode Island, and was a member of the VFW Post 4487. Mr.

Wardwell was also a proud member and Past Council President, Newport County Council, Navy

League of the United States with additional terms as Area President, Southern New England,

Region President, New England, and National Vice-president. In addition, he was named the

Veteran of the Year in 2012 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Middletown, Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Wardwell was an enthusiastic supporter of the Young Sea Cadets. He

marched in local parades on Memorial Day in formation with the three Naval Sea Cadet Corps

Divisions sponsored by the Newport County Council, Navy League of the United States. In 2014,

he organized a contingent of Sea Cadets to march in the Bristol Fourth of July Parade and was a

passionate supporter of the Navy League. He also served them as Chair of the Awards

Committee, which conducts their annual ceremonies; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Wardwell also devoted much of his private time in support of the

Aquidneck Land Trust, the Fort Adams Trust, the National Association of Active and Retired

Federal Employees, and the Council for International Visitors in Newport, Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Active in the community, George Wardwell is survived by his devoted wife,

Edna Wardwell, his sister Diane James and her husband, Arthur, his two children, Michael P.

Wardwell and Shannon Fuentes, three step-children, Jason Roach, George Roach, and Claudia

McPherson, and eight grandchildren, Tiphanie and Myranda Fuentes, Joshua, Julia and Ryan

Simmons, and Sean McPherson, Lindsay Roach and Alysan McGowan-Roach. George was

predeceased by his father, Houston, and mother, Phyllis Wardwell, and his brother, Stephen Paul

Wardwell; now, therefore be it

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

hereby expresses its condolences to the Wardwell Family on the passing of George A. Wardwell;

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 Mrs. Edna Wardwell.

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