2020 -- H 8111

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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

CONGRATULATING CAPTAIN MARK TURNER, UNITED STATES NAVY (RETIRED),

ON BEING NAMED THE SPEAKER FOR THE PATRIOTIC EXERCISES FOR THE 2020

BRISTOL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, THE OLDEST ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY

CELEBRATION IN AMERICA

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Donovan, Shekarchi, and Mattiello

     Date Introduced: July 16, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Captain Mark Turner, son of a World War II veteran, was born in

Greenwich, Connecticut, and was commissioned after graduation from Marquette ROTC. Captain

Turner served our nation with honor and distinction for thirty years as a Naval Officer in the

Maritime Patrol Community. Captain Turner held multiple leadership positions including serving

as the Commanding Officer and Commodore of Airwing Eleven; and

     WHEREAS, Captain Turner attended the U.S. Naval War College in Newport in 2010

and earned a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He went on to serve as

the Director of the Naval Staff College. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his

distinguished career including the James Forrestal Award for Excellence in Strategic Planning,

and Rhode Island Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots Award for Excellence. His

military awards include three Legions of Merit, the Defense Service Medal, two Meritorious

Service Medals, and four Navy Commendation Medals; and

     WHEREAS, After retiring from the Naval Staff College, Captain Turner took a position

as a contractor with Netsimco, where he continued to provide support to the mission of the Naval

War College. He also began volunteering his time in support of Rogers High School, where he

co-created an International Studies and Leadership program teaching students about global issues.

He later married Colleen Kiernan, a teacher he worked with at Rogers High School; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife Colleen, Captain Turner is blessed with three

stepchildren, Gabrielle, a nurse at Rhode Island Hospital, Catherine, a recent graduate of the

University of Virginia, and John, a 2020 graduate of Rogers High School. As a member of VFW

Post 406, Captain Turner worked on the Committee to bring the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall

to Newport in 2019. His numerous speaking engagements have included speaking at the Pearl

Harbor Commemoration, the 9/11 Commemoration, (He was stationed at the Pentagon during the

attack), the Newport Memorial Day Remembrance, and he was the Keynote Speaker for the

Rogers High School online graduation; now, therefore be it

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

congratulates Captain Mark Turner, United States Navy (Retired), on being named the Speaker

for the Patriotic Exercises for the 2020 Bristol Fourth of July Parade; 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 Captain Mark Turner, United States Navy

(Retired).

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