Vermont HCR 175: House concurrent resolution commemorating the bravery of the Vermont- trained First Special Service Force

Bill Text

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No. R-210. House concurrent resolution in memory of the Venerable J. Stannard
Baker of Shelburne.
(H.C.R.175)
Offered by Representatives Krowinski of Burlington, Arsenault of Williston, Austin of
Colchester, Bartley of Fairfax, Birong of Vergennes, Bishop of Colchester, Black of
Essex, Bluemle of Burlington, Boyden of Cambridge, Brady of Williston, Brown of
Richmond, Burke of Brattleboro, Burkhardt of South Burlington, Burrows of West
Windsor, Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Canfield of Fair Haven, Carris Duncan of
Whitingham, Cina of Burlington, Coffin of Cavendish, Conlon of Cornwall, Cooper of
Pownal, Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Donahue of Northfield, Duke of
Burlington, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Eastes of Guilford, Emmons of Springfield, Feltus of
Lyndon, Galfetti of Barre Town, Garofano of Essex, Goslant of Northfield, Graning of
Jericho, Greer of Bennington, Gregoire of Fairfield, Headrick of Burlington, Higley of
Lowell, Holcombe of Norwich, Houghton of Essex Junction, Hoyt of Hartford, James of
Manchester, Keyser of Rutland City, Kleppner of Burlington, Kornheiser of Brattleboro,
Krasnow of South Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, LaLonde of South Burlington,
LaMont of Morristown, Long of Newfane, Luneau of St. Albans City, Masland of
Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McCoy of Poultney, McGill of Bridport, Minier of
South Burlington, Morgan, M. of Milton, Morris of Springfield, Morrissey of
Bennington, Morrow of Weston, Mrowicki of Putney, Nelson of Derby, Nugent of South
Burlington, Ode of Burlington, Olson of Starksboro, Pezzo of Colchester, Pinsonault of
Dorset, Pouech of Hinesburg, Pritchard of Pawlet, Rachelson of Burlington, Satcowitz of
Randolph, Scheu of Middlebury, Sibilia of Dover, Squirrell of Underhill, Stevens of
Waterbury, Stone of Burlington, Sweeney of Shelburne, Taylor of Milton, Tomlinson of
Winooski, Torre of Moretown, Waters Evans of Charlotte, Wells of Brownington, White
of Waitsfield, White of Bethel, and Wood of Waterbury
Whereas, Stan Baker, whose forebears were Green Mountain Boys and whose names
are reflected in the towns Bakersfield and Stannard, wrote his own page of Vermont
history, and
Whereas, a Swarthmore College graduate, Stan Baker was a co-founder of and teacher
at the Otter Creek School, a registered play therapist, a licensed mental health counselor,
and a mental health clinical director in Addison and Chittenden Counties, and
Whereas, in the 1990s, he and his life partner, Peter Harrigan, Professor of Fine Arts:
Theater at St. Michael’s College, desired to marry, but as a same-gender couple this was
legally impossible, and
Whereas, in partnership with two other LGBTQ+ couples, they sued for the right to
marry, and in 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court, in the landmark decision, Baker v.
State, 170 Vt. 194, established marriage equality under the Vermont Constitution, and the
holding lead to Act 91 of 2000 establishing civil unions, and ultimately, Act 3 of 2009
authorizing civil marriage, and
Whereas, in 2009, Stan Baker, a strong justice advocate, was ordained as a deacon in
the Episcopal Church, and his local church leadership included service as a chaplain at

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Fletcher Allen Health Care (now the University of Vermont Medical Center), a deacon of
the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, and archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese
of Vermont, and nationally, he served on panels examining marriage as a five-time clergy
deputy to the House of Delegates; as chair of 2024 House of Deputies General
Convention Legislative Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Music; and also in
2024, was elected to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, and
Whereas, in June 2025, Stan Baker died at 79 years of age, and his survivors include
his husband, Peter Harrigan, and numerous family members and admiring friends, now
therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends
of the Venerable J. Stannard Baker of Shelburne, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
members of the family of Stan Baker and to the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.