| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2875 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 182 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Richardson of the 125 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Cannon of the 172 |
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| 6 | 6 | | nd |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Clark of the 100 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Horner |
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| 10 | 10 | | of the 3 |
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| 11 | 11 | | rd |
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| 12 | 12 | | , and Bonner of the 73 |
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| 13 | 13 | | rd |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 16 | 16 | | Commending and congratulating Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano; and for other |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1 |
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| 18 | 18 | | purposes.2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano was born in 1923, making him the3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | last surviving World War II veteran to witness Germany's surrender, and this year he enjoys4 |
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| 21 | 21 | | the rare distinction of celebrating his 102nd birthday; and5 |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, this distinguished individual landed on Omaha Beach with the Third Wave on6 |
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| 23 | 23 | | D-Day, courageously driving a tanker truck full of gasoline through the battlefield while7 |
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| 24 | 24 | | under relentless machine gun fire from German forces positioned on the cliffs above; and8 |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, after D-Day, he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost lost9 |
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| 26 | 26 | | his feet to frostbite, and he took part in the June 6th invasion of Normandy in 1944; and10 |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, he served as the utilities foreman for the 102nd Infantry Field Artillery11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | Battalion Special Headquarters Command in Reims, France, where he was responsible for12 |
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| 29 | 29 | | all American-occupied buildings in Reims, including the Little Red Schoolhouse where13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Germany signed the surrender document; and14 |
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| 31 | 31 | | H. R. 182 |
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| 32 | 32 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2875 |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, after witnessing the signing, Retired Master Sergeant Graziano personally |
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| 34 | 34 | | 15 |
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| 35 | 35 | | escorted the German delegation to another room to meet General Dwight D. Eisenhower; and16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Retired Master Sergeant Graziano met his future wife, Eula "Bobbie"17 |
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| 37 | 37 | | Shaneyfelt, while he was in Reims, where she served as a staff sergeant in the Women's18 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Army Corps, and the couple moved back to the United States and raised five children, Louis,19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | Moira, Marsha, David, and Kim; and20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, in recognition of his extraordinary service, he has received numerous medals21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | and commendations throughout his life, including being knighted by the Consul General of22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | the Republic of France in 2021 as a recipient of the French Legion Medal of Honor; and23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | WHEREAS, by the example Retired Master Sergeant Graziano has made of his life, he24 |
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| 44 | 44 | | makes this world a better place in which to live, and it is only fitting and proper that he be25 |
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| 45 | 45 | | appropriately recognized during this very special and memorable time.26 |
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| 46 | 46 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that27 |
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| 47 | 47 | | the members of this body commend Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano for his28 |
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| 48 | 48 | | unselfish, dedicated, and loving service to the members of his family, state, and nation;29 |
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| 49 | 49 | | congratulate him on the remarkable occasion of his 102nd birthday; and extend their most30 |
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| 50 | 50 | | sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness.31 |
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| 51 | 51 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 |
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| 52 | 52 | | and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to33 |
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| 53 | 53 | | Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano.34 |
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| 54 | 54 | | H. R. 182 |
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| 55 | 55 | | - 2 - |
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