HLS 19RS-3298 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 112
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARMES
VETERANS: Requests the President of the United States to designate a state funeral after
the death of the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the President of the United States to designate a state funeral for the last
3 surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when such recipient passes
4 away.
5 WHEREAS, World War II, the most widespread war in history, lasted from 1939
6until 1945; and
7 WHEREAS, the United States entered the war in 1941, following an attack on Pearl
8Harbor by Japanese fighter planes; and
9 WHEREAS, over sixteen million Americans served their country and the Allied
10powers over the course of the war; and
11 WHEREAS, the generation of men and women who served our country in World
12War II have been collectively called the "greatest generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and
13 WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the
14United States government, is presented by the President of the United States, in the name of
15Congress; and
16 WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of the United
17States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and
18intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action
19against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving
20conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an
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HCR NO. 112
1armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States was not a
2belligerent party; and
3 WHEREAS, more than three thousand four hundred Medals of Honor have been
4awarded to our nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since
5the creation of the award in 1861; and
6 WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor was awarded to three hundred fifty-three
7Americans during World War II and only four of those three hundred fifty-three Americans
8are alive today; and
9 WHEREAS, each of those courageous servicemen, Charles H. Coolidge of
10Tennessee, Francis S. Currey of New York, Robert D. Maxwell of Oregon, and Hershel
11Woodrow Williams of West Virginia, risked his life while serving his country with
12conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity and therefore deserve the gratitude of the American
13people; and
14 WHEREAS, the President of the United States has the sole authority to designate a
15state funeral; and
16 WHEREAS, historically, the President of the United States has designated state
17funerals for former presidents, generals, and other extraordinary Americans; and
18 WHEREAS, our nation is currently divided and yearns for a unifying national event;
19and
20 WHEREAS, designating a state funeral when the last surviving World War II Medal
21of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way for the American people to unite and
22honor all sixteen million soldiers, sailors, and airmen who served in our Armed Forces from
231941 to 1945.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
25urge and request the President of the United States to designate a state funeral for the last
26surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when such recipient passes away.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the Louisiana House of
28Representatives be instructed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the President
29of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States
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HCR NO. 112
1House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and all
2members of the Louisiana congressional delegation.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 112 Original 2019 Regular Session Armes
Requests the President of the United States to designate a state funeral for the last surviving
World War II Medal of Honor recipient upon his death.
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