| R 229 |
| 2020 -- S 2879 Enacted 06/18/2020 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING "MEDAL OF HONOR DAY" IN RHODE ISLAND ON MARCH 25, 2020 |
| Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Paolino, Rogers, de la Cruz, and Algiere |
| Date Introduced: June 17, 2020 |
| WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military decoration |
| that is awarded to United States military service members through their acts of valor. It is |
| awarded for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of |
| duty;" and |
| WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was first established by the United States Navy in |
| 1861, followed by the United States Army in 1862. The United States Air Force, founded as an |
| independent service in 1947, established its Medal of Honor in 1965. Each branch has a slightly |
| different design to its Medal of Honor; and |
| WHEREAS, "Medal of Honor Day" is a United States federal holiday that was |
| established to honor the heroism and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients. Medal of Honor Day |
| was created when President George H. W. Bush signed into law Public Law 101-564 on |
| November 15, 1990; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island has had the distinction of having thirty-five of its citizens |
| receive the Medal of Honor. These heroic men were 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), |
| 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), Private James Welsh, (Army), Sergeant |
| John S. Lawton, (Army), Private Owen McGar, (Army), Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer, |
| John Davis, (Navy), Boatswain’s Mate Matthew Gillick, (Navy), Seaman Philip Moore, (Navy), |
| Machinist’s Mate Chief Petty Officer Michael Walsh, (Navy), Gunner’s Mate Chief Petty |
| Officer, George Bradley, (Navy), Machinist’s Mate Chief Petty Officer, Francis Edward |
| Ormsbee, Jr., (Navy), Gunner’s Mate Chief Petty Officer Thomas Eadie, (Navy), Sergeant |
| William G. Fournier, (Army), Private George J. Peters, (Army), Lieutenant Robert T. Waugh, |
| (Army), and Corporal David B. Champagne, (Marine Corps); now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| hereby commemorates "Medal of Honor Day" in Rhode Island on March 25, 2020; 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 Governor of Rhode Island, Gina |
| M. Raimondo, and Mr. Kasim Yarn, Director, Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs. |
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| LC005203 |
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