Enrolled HCR 48: Relating to establishing the Alaska Medal of Honor.
00Enrolled HCR 48 01 Relating to establishing the Alaska Medal of Honor. 02 _______________ 03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 WHEREAS, in times of threats to our nation's security, the armed forces of the 05 United States stand ready to protect our nation; and 06 WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States also protect the lives and freedoms 07 of individuals from other nations who cannot fight for themselves; and 08 WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States, which are known for highly skilled 09 military personnel, unwavering patriotism, and undiminishing compassion for others, bravely 10 answered the call to fight for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan; and 11 WHEREAS, as a central location of armed forces training and preparation, the state 12 has sent many members of the Alaska National Guard, the military reserves, the United States 13 Air Force, the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, 14 the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Coast Guard Reserve who are state 15 residents or who were stationed in the state to protect the United States from terrorist groups 16 based in Iraq and Afghanistan; and 17 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.