2024 -- H 8088

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LC005678

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING THE 1000TH REPAIRED GRAVESTONE OF THE MAJOR

SULLIVAN BALLOU CAMP #3 IN THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE SONS

OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR, AND HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE

VOLUNTEERED TO REPAIR THOSE GRAVE MARKERS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Place, Kennedy,
Azzinaro, Ajello, Fellela, Ackerman, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island remained loyal to the Union during the United

States Civil War, supplying the United States Army with 25,236 fighting men, including 1,685

who lost their lives fighting to end slavery and preserve the Union; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Army veterans of the Civil War banded together to form

the Grand Army of the Republic, supporting voting rights for black veterans, promoting patriotic

education, and helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday; and

     WHEREAS, The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, the legal successor to the

Grand Army of the Republic, was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1954, to preserve the

history and legacy of the United States Armed Forces veterans who fought during the Civil War;

and

     WHEREAS, Many gravestones in Rhode Island’s historic cemeteries have broken or

toppled over due to vandalism or the ravages of time, including those that mark the remains of

many Civil War Union veterans; and

     WHEREAS, The members of Major Sullivan Ballou Camp #3 of the Sons of Union

Veterans of the Civil War have donated their time and energy to repair and reset the grave

markers of both veterans and civilians alike throughout the cemeteries of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Major Sullivan Ballou Camp #3 recently marked the occasion of its 1000th

repaired gravestone, and plans to celebrate the milestone with an outing at Goddard Memorial

State Park, which was named for Rhode Island Civil War veteran Robert Goddard; now, therefore

be it

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

commemorates the occasion of the 1000th repaired gravestone of Major Sullivan Ballou Camp #3

in the Rhode Island Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Moreover, we

honor the dedication of those who have volunteered to repair those grave markers; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized to transmit duly

certified copies of this resolution to Alex Seubert, Camp Commander of Major Sullivan Ballou

Camp #3, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and Joseph Faiola, Department Commander

of the Rhode Island Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

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