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A RESOLUTION recognizing 250 years of Kentucky's contributions in 1
representing the United States Marine Corps in faithful service to the United States of 2
America. 3
WHEREAS, November 10, 1775, is the celebrated day on which the United States 4
Marine Corps was established to add to the United States naval forces founded that same 5
year. The Continental Congress ordered that a number of Marines be raised to serve as 6
landing forces with the United States Navy; and 7
WHEREAS, the United States Marine Corps has participated in all wars of the 8
United States, executed more than 300 landings on foreign shores, and served in all major 9
Unites States naval actions since its founding; and 10
WHEREAS, many Marines proudly call Kentucky home, and the Commonwealth 11
proudly embraces them in return; and 12
WHEREAS, two particularly notable Marines, Lieutenant Presley N. O'Bannon and 13
Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley, have Kentucky connections; and 14
WHEREAS, in the early 1800s during the United States' war with Tripoli, 15
Lieutenant Presley N. O'Bannon was part of the assault force taking the city of Derna in 16
Africa, where Hamet, the elder brother of the sovereign leader of Tripoli and an ally of 17
the United States in the war, presented Lieutenant O'Bannon with a jeweled sword with a 18
Mameluke hilt. Lieutenant O'Bannon was subsequently presented a replica of this sword, 19
which became the model of all ceremonial swords worn by United States Marine Corps 20
officers with their dress uniforms. Lieutenant O'Bannon, a native of Virginia, later moved 21
to Kentucky, and his remains, originally interred in Henry County, Kentucky, were 22
moved to Frankfort in Franklin County as part of a memorial to his service. Lieutenant 23
O'Bannon's and other Marines' actions "on the shores of Tripoli" are now famously part 24
of the Marines' Hymn; and 25
WHEREAS, in the hard-won Battle of Iwo Jima at the conclusion of the United 26
States' involvement in the Pacific Theatre in World War II, Fleming County, Kentucky, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1982
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native Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley became one of flag raisers on Mount 1
Suribachi, a moment that was memorialized in the famous photo taken by Joe Rosenthal. 2
Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley would later give his life in service to his fellow 3
Marines and his country in that same battle; and 4
WHEREAS, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United 5
States Marine Corps, and the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky is 6
celebrating with "Resolved Fidelity Campaign" events throughout the year to 7
commemorate the anniversary and honor Marines, past and present, from Kentucky and 8
beyond. One event of note is the Freedom Run, in which Marine officer candidates and 9
other Marines participate in a 70-mile relay from Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley's 10
grave to Lieutenant Presley N. O'Bannon's grave, a past Freedom Flag Run tradition that 11
is being reinstituted on September 17, 2025, in conjunction with Citizenship Day as 12
celebrated on September 17 of each year and Constitution Week as requested by 13
Congress to be celebrated beginning on September 17 and ending September 23 of each 14
year; 15
NOW, THEREFORE, 16
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 17
Kentucky: 18
Section 1. This august body does hereby recognize and honor all members of 19
the United States Marine Corps that hail from, serve from, or otherwise settle in 20
Kentucky for their honorable service and making contributions to the Commonwealth of 21
Kentucky's role in maintaining the constitutional republic of the United States of America 22
during this, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. 23
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 24
Resolution to Senator Aaron Reed for presentation to the Board of Directors of the 25
Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky. 26