00                 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48 am S                                                                
01 Relating to establishing the Alaska Medal of Honor.                                                                     
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS, in times of threats to our nation's security, the armed forces of the                                  
04 United States stand ready to protect our nation; and                                                                    
05       WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States also protect the lives and freedoms                               
06 of individuals from other nations who cannot fight for themselves; and                                                  
07       WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States, which are known for highly skilled                               
08 military personnel, unwavering patriotism, and undiminishing compassion for others, bravely                             
09 answered the call to fight for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan; and                                                
10       WHEREAS, as a central location of armed forces training and preparation, the state                              
11 has sent many members of the Alaska National Guard, the military reserves, the United States                            
12 Air Force, the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy,                              
13 the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Coast Guard Reserve who are state                                  
14 residents or who were stationed in the state to protect the United States from terrorist groups                         
15 based in Iraq and Afghanistan; and                                                                                      
16       WHEREAS, in the course of active and unpredictable military duty, members of the                                

01 armed forces often become engaged in dangerous situations, endangering their own lives as                               
02 they act to protect innocent civilians; and                                                                             
03       WHEREAS airmen, airwomen, soldiers, marines, and sailors who are state residents                                
04 or who were stationed in the state have served in some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq                              
05 and Afghanistan and have come into contact with opposing forces on a daily basis; and                                   
06       WHEREAS many heroes who were residents of the state or who were stationed in the                                
07 state have been killed in action, courageously sacrificing their lives to protect the lives of                          
08 Americans and of foreign citizens; and                                                                                  
09       WHEREAS the people of the state are grateful to and saddened by the loss of those                               
10 members of the armed forces who have been killed in action, and stand by the surviving                                  
11 family members in support; and                                                                                          
12       WHEREAS the members of the armed forces who have been killed in action will be                                  
13 forever remembered as heroes who sacrificed their lives so others could be free from acts of                            
14 terrorism;                                                                                                              
15       BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the legislature establish an                                
16 Alaska Medal of Honor that may be awarded to residents of the state and those who were                                  
17 stationed in the state who have been killed in action; and be it                                                        
18       FURTHER RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Alaska Medal of                                       
19 Honor be awarded to residents of the state or those who were stationed in the state who have                            
20 been killed in action while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; and be                          
21 it                                                                                                                      
22       FURTHER RESOLVED that a recipient of the Alaska Medal of Honor be a resident                                    
23 of the state or have served in the state as a member of the Alaska National Guard, the United                           
24 States regular armed forces, the United States Coast Guard, or the United States armed forces                           
25 reserves at the time the combat fatality occurred; and be it                                                            
26       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Armed Services Committee, in conjunction                                        
27 with the Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard and the commanding officer of                                    
28 Alaska Command or their representatives, prepare and design the Alaska Medal of Honor;                                  
29 and be it                                                                                                               
30       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Armed Services Committee prepare                                                
31 legislation to be introduced and considered during the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature,                           

01 to provide for an Alaska Medal of Honor to help express the gratitude of the people of the                              
02 State of Alaska to the members of our armed forces who sacrificed their lives in defense of                             
03 our nation and its freedoms and to their loved ones; and be it                                                          
04       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Armed Services Committee, in conjunction                                        
05 with the Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard and the commanding officer of                                    
06 Alaska Command or their representatives, prepare and present guidelines for awarding the                                
07 Alaska Medal of Honor to the Alaska State Legislature for approval.