2020 -- H 7951 | |
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LC005211 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N | |
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO | |
DESIGNATE A STATE FUNERAL FOR THE LAST SURVIVING MEDAL OF HONOR | |
RECIPIENT FROM WORLD WAR II WHEN SUCH RECIPIENT PASSES AWAY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Mattiello, Fellela, Abney, and Serpa | |
Date Introduced: March 03, 2020 | |
Referred To: House read and passed | |
1 | WHEREAS, World War II, the most widespread war in history, lasted from 1939 until |
2 | 1945; and |
3 | WHEREAS, The United States entered the war in 1941, following an attack on Pearl |
4 | Harbor by Japanese fighter planes; and |
5 | WHEREAS, Over sixteen million Americans served their country and the Allied powers |
6 | over the course of the war; and |
7 | WHEREAS, The men and women who served our country in World War II have been |
8 | collectively called the "greatest generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and |
9 | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that is awarded by |
10 | the United States government; and |
11 | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the United States, in |
12 | the name of Congress; and |
13 | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of the United States |
14 | Armed Forces who distinguished themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the |
15 | risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the |
16 | United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign |
17 | force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing |
18 | armed force in which the United States was not a belligerent party; and |
19 | WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to our nation's |
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1 | bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since the creation of the award in |
2 | 1861; and |
3 | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was awarded to 353 Americans during World War II. |
4 | Today only 2 of those recipients are still alive; and |
5 | WHEREAS, These courageous servicemen, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and |
6 | Hershel Woodrow Williams of West Virginia, risked their lives while serving our country with |
7 | conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity and therefore deserve the gratitude of the American people; |
8 | and |
9 | WHEREAS, The President of the United States has the sole authority to designate a state |
10 | funeral; and |
11 | WHEREAS, Historically, the President of the United States has designated state funerals |
12 | for former presidents, generals, and other extraordinary Americans; and |
13 | WHEREAS, Our nation is currently divided and yearns for a unifying national event; and |
14 | WHEREAS, Designating a state funeral when the last surviving World War II Medal of |
15 | Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way for the American people to unite and honor all |
16 | sixteen million soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen who served in our Armed |
17 | Forces from 1941 to 1945; now, therefore be it |
18 | RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
19 | Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges the President of the United States to designate a |
20 | state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when such |
21 | recipient passes away; and be it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
23 | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice |
24 | President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the |
25 | Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and members of the Rhode Island Congressional |
26 | Delegation. |
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LC005211 | |
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