2022 -- H 8271

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LC005508

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING REPRESENTATIVE CAMILLE F.J. VELLA-WILKINSON ON BEING

NAMED THE 2022 "VERRAZANO DAY PERSON OF THE YEAR"

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Azzinaro, Abney, McLaughlin,
Casey, Casimiro, Solomon, Fellela, and Place

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Established in 1961, the "Verrazano Day Person of the Year" is awarded by

the Department of Rhode Island Italian American War Veterans and the Grand Lodge of Rhode

Island, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The 2022 very deserving recipient and the

first woman veteran in sixty years to receive this prestigious honor is our friend and colleague,

Camille Vella-Wilkinson; and

     WHEREAS, For more than twenty-five years, Representative Vella-Wilkinson has been

dedicated to public service in myriad capacities. Now retired, she honorably served our country as

an officer in the United States Navy, served three terms on the Warwick City Council, was state

commissioner on the Rhode Island Commission for Human Relations, served as the City of

Warwick veterans liaison, and in November of 2016, was elected to the Rhode Island House of

Representatives in District 21; and

     WHEREAS, During her tenure in the House, Representative Vella-Wilkinson has earned

the unqualified admiration of her colleagues. She currently Chairs the House Conduct Committee,

is Second Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee, and is a member of the House Finance

Committee, House Judiciary Committee, and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee; and

     WHEREAS, Altruistically inclined to always give a full measure of effort and

enthusiasm to supporting veterans in our State, Representative Vella-Wilkinson began an annual

veterans' outreach program in 2017 in order to provide information and access to the legislature

and the availability of various programs; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Representative Vella-Wilkinson championed the passage of

legislation that grants in-state tuition status at the state operated schools to active duty and reserve

members stationed in Rhode Island, legislation that directs the Department of Education to utilize

the federal Troops to Teachers program, the Military Property Tax Exemption bill that eliminates

the requirement for a veteran to have achieved a Campaign Ribbon or an Expeditionary Medal in

order to qualify for state veterans benefits, organized a boot camp breakfast to honor veterans on

Armed Forces Day, and hosted the House of Representatives' observance of the 150th

Anniversary of Memorial Day; and

     WHEREAS, Earning the respect and gratitude of her constituency and veterans,

Representative Vella-Wilkinson has been honored with numerous awards including, the

Legislator of the Year award from the Disabled American Veterans, the 2018 Legislative Award

from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the YMCA Woman of Achievement award, and the

American Legion Post 43 Auxiliary Female Veteran of the Year award; and

     WHEREAS, On May 21, 2022, Representative Vella-Wilkinson will be honored at a

black-tie dinner for "her unwavering support of all veterans and her community." She can surely

look back upon her achievements thus far with justifiable pride in all that she has accomplished.

By both word and example, she is truly an inspiration and a paradigm of dedication to Veterans,

her community, and our State and is eminently worthy of our praise and acknowledgement; now,

therefore be it

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

recognizes and congratulates Representative Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson on being named the

"Verrazano Day Person of the Year" and wishes her continued success in all her endeavors; 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 the Honorable Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson.

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LC005508

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