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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 374 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2498 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Bruce E. Tarr |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act to properly recognize Massachusetts merchant mariners, living and deceased, who served |
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| 13 | 13 | | in an active war zone. |
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| 14 | 14 | | _______________ |
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| 15 | 15 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 16 | 16 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and MiddlesexSteven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/27/2025 1 of 2 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 374 FILED ON: 1/13/2025 |
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| 18 | 18 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2498 |
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| 19 | 19 | | By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2498) of Bruce E. Tarr and Steven |
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| 20 | 20 | | George Xiarhos for legislation to properly recognize merchant marine veterans. Veterans and |
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| 21 | 21 | | Federal Affairs. |
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| 22 | 22 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 23 | 23 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 2688 OF 2023-2024.] |
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| 24 | 24 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 28 | 28 | | _______________ |
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| 29 | 29 | | An Act to properly recognize Massachusetts merchant mariners, living and deceased, who served |
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| 30 | 30 | | in an active war zone. |
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| 31 | 31 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 32 | 32 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 33 | 33 | | 1 SECTION 1. (a) Section 9 of Chapter 115 as appearing in the 2022 official edition is |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following: - |
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| 35 | 35 | | 3 “In cemeteries containing the remains of veterans which contain a display of flags |
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| 36 | 36 | | 4representing branches of United States military services such displays shall include the service |
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| 37 | 37 | | 5flags of the following: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force, and |
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| 38 | 38 | | 6Merchant Marine.” |
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| 39 | 39 | | 7 (b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary the superintendent of the |
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| 40 | 40 | | 8state house shall install the flag of the United States Merchant Marine in memorial hall of the |
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| 41 | 41 | | 9state house. 2 of 2 |
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| 42 | 42 | | 10 SECTION 2. Chapter 33 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, |
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| 43 | 43 | | 11is hereby amended by inserting after section 67B the following section: - |
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| 44 | 44 | | 12 Section 67C. There shall be a Massachusetts Merchant Mariner medal to be presented to |
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| 45 | 45 | | 13a Merchant Mariner who served in an active war zone. In order to be eligible a Merchant Mariner |
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| 46 | 46 | | 14must have been a resident of the commonwealth of Massachusetts during said service and must |
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| 47 | 47 | | 15have served after December 6, 1941. The requirements to receive the Massachusetts Merchant |
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| 48 | 48 | | 16Mariner medal shall be the same as set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s |
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| 49 | 49 | | 17requirements for Merchant Marine Medals and Decorations as prescribed in 46 CFR 350.4. |
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| 50 | 50 | | 18 There shall be a commission, henceforth called the Merchant Mariner Medal |
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| 51 | 51 | | 19Commission, comprised of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the commandant of the |
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| 52 | 52 | | 20Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and a Merchant Mariner, who shall be appointed by the |
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| 53 | 53 | | 21Governor from a list of 3 names provided by American Merchant Marine Association; further the |
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| 54 | 54 | | 22person appointed by the Governor shall have or have had an unlimited tonnage or any |
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| 55 | 55 | | 23horsepower USCG license. The Commission shall design the Merchant Mariner Medal and make |
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| 56 | 56 | | 24recommendations to the commander-in-chief for the awarding of the Massachusetts Merchant |
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| 57 | 57 | | 25Mariner Medal. |
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