| R 148 |
| 2021 -- H 6161 Enacted 03/25/2021 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING "MEDAL OF HONOR DAY" ON MARCH 25, 2021, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Vella-Wilkinson, Abney, McLaughlin, Kennedy, Corvese, Fellela, and Ajello |
| Date Introduced: March 25, 2021 |
| WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military decoration |
| in the United States. It is awarded by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress, |
| "to members of the armed forces who have distinguished themselves conspicuously by their |
| gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty"; and |
| WHEREAS, There are three distinct versions of the Medal of Honor. The United States |
| Navy introduced its version in 1861, which is awarded to members of the United States Navy, the |
| Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. The United States Army introduced its version in 1862, and |
| the United States Air Force introduced its version in 1965. Prior to 1965, members of the Air |
| Force received the United States Army version of the Medal of Honor; and |
| WHEREAS, "Medal of Honor Day" is a federal holiday that was established to honor the |
| heroism and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients. It was created when President George H. W. |
| Bush signed Public Law 101-564 on November 15, 1990; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island has the distinction of having thirty-five of its citizens receive |
| the Medal of Honor. These heroic men were, from the Civil War, Lieutenant William B. Avery, |
| (Navy), Sergeant William J. Babcock, (Army), Corporal James A. Barber, (Army), Captain |
| George M. Bliss, (Army), Colonel Zenas R. Bliss, (Army), Lieutenant John K. Bucklyn, (Army), |
| Sergeant James H. Burbank, (Army), Corporal Benjamin H. Child, (Army), Private John |
| Corcoran, (Army), Captain of the Top John Edwards, (Navy), Private Charles D. Ennis, (Army), |
| Sergeant John H. Havron, (Army), Coxswain Thomas Hayes, (Navy), Corporal Samuel E. Lewis, |
| (Army), Private George E. McDonald, (Army), Sergeant Archibald Molbone, (Army), Corporal |
| Thomas Parker, (Army), Private George W. Potter, (Army), Seaman George E. Read (Navy), |
| Private Joseph Taylor, ( Army), Lieutenant Edward P. Tobie, (Army), and Private James Welsh, |
| (Army). The Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaign are Sergeant John S. Lawton, |
| (Army), and Private Owen McGar (Army). The Medal of Honor recipients from the Interim |
| Period are Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer, John Davis (Navy), Boatswain’s Mate |
| Matthew Gillick, (Navy), Seaman Philip Moore, (Navy), and Machinist’s Mate Chief Petty |
| Officer, Michael Walsh, (Navy). The Medal of Honor recipient from the Mexican Campaign is |
| Gunner’s Mate Chief Petty Officer, George Bradley, (Navy). The Medal of Honor recipient from |
| World War I is Machinist’s Mate Chief Petty Officer, Francis Edward Ormsbee, Jr., (Navy). The |
| Medal of Honor recipient from the Interim Period between World Wars I and II is Gunner’s Mate |
| Chief Petty Officer, Thomas Eadie, (Navy). The Medal of Honor recipients from World War II |
| are Sergeant William G. Fournier, (Army), Private George G. Peters, (Army), and Lieutenant |
| Robert T. Waugh, (Army), and the Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War is Corporal |
| David B. Champagne, (United States Marine Corps); now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates "Medal of Honor Day" on March 25, 2021; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the |
| State of Rhode Island, Mr. Kasim Yarn, Director, Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs, and |
| Major General Christopher Callahan, Rhode Island Adjutant General. |
| ======== |
| LC002550 |
| ======== |