Kentucky HR 118: A RESOLUTION supporting South Dakota resident William "Bill" Casper in his efforts to petition President Donald J. Trump to hold a state funeral for the final World War II veteran to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bill Text

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A RESOLUTION supporting South Dakota resident William "Bill" Casper in his 1
efforts to petition President Donald J. Trump to hold a state funeral for the final World 2
War II veteran to be awarded the Medal of Honor. 3
WHEREAS, over 16 million Americans served their country and its allies during 4
the course of World War II; and 5
WHEREAS, the generation of men and women who served the United States in 6
World War II has been called "the greatest generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and 7
WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that is awarded 8
by the United States government; and 9
WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the United States 10
in the name of Congress; and 11
WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of the United 12
States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and 13
intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action 14
against an enemy of the United States; and 15
WHEREAS, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to our nation's 16
bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen since the creation of the 17
award in 1861; and 18
WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor was awarded to 473 Americans during World War 19
II; only two of those 473 Americans are alive today; and 20
WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel H. Williams of West 21
Virginia both served their country with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of 22
life, and therefore deserve the gratitude of the American people; and 23
WHEREAS, the President of the United States has the sole authority to designate a 24
state funeral; and 25
WHEREAS, historically, the President of the United States has designated state 26
funerals for former presidents, generals, and other extraordinary Americans; and 27

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WHEREAS, designating a state funeral when the last surviving World War II 1
Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way for the American people to 2
unite and honor those people who served our Armed Forces from 1941 to 1945; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 5
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 6
Section 1. The House of Representatives hereby supports South Dakota resident 7
William "Bill" Casper in his efforts to petition President Donald J. Trump to hold a state 8
funeral for the final World War II veteran to be awarded the Medal of Honor. 9
Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a 10
copy of this Resolution to President Donald J. Trump. 11