01/30/1995 05:10 PM House MLV

 Number 045                                                                    
 HMLV - 01/30/95                                                               
 HCR 5 - PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY                                        
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT introduced HCR 5 (Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day).             
 He said Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack            
 against the United States forces located at Pearl Harbor and nearby           
 military facilities.  This attack came without warning and without            
 a declaration of war.  Over 2,000 Americans were killed, and many             
 others suffered grievous injuries.  A major portion of the United             
 States Pacific Fleet was decimated, leaving many other Americans in           
 the Pacific exposed to attack and capture.                                    
                                                                               
 Japan's action on this date ushered in our involvement in World War           
 II.  Thereafter, for over four years, the United States was engaged           
 in a great global conflict, marked by the unimaginable suffering of           
 untold millions, both military and civilian.  The lives of an                 
 entire generation were disrupted, and many still bear scars from              
 this conflict.                                                                
                                                                               
 Over 50 years have elapsed since the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Those           
 Americans who were then old enough to remember that day are aging,            
 and many are no longer with us.  Someday, that generation will be             
 gone, and no one will be available to bear witness to that pivotal            
 event in our history.                                                         
                                                                               
 As a people, we can not afford to forget what happened.  Lessons              
 were learned which remain relevant to this day.  Suffering was                
 endured for our freedom, and this cries out for recognition.  Blood           
 was spilled by a heroic generation so that we, today, can enjoy               
 freedom.  It would be a sacrilege to fail to acknowledge our                  
 continuing debt to the who gave so much to us.                                
                                                                               
 Accordingly, it is proper-- indeed, necessary-- to continually                
 remind ourselves, and future generations, of the events of December           
 7, 1941.  HCR 5 does just that, by designating that day as Pearl              
 Harbor Day and calling on the Governor to issue and appropriate               
 proclamation.  Your support is appreciated.                                   
                                                                               
 Number 093                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER stated that resolutions like this               
 were good ones.  He also wanted to know what it would take so we              
 wouldn't have to bring this before committee every year because the           
 number of veterans in the House and Senate was dwindling, and he              
 was afraid there wouldn't be enough push to get it through in                 
 following years.                                                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT thought it would take a bill.                             
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER suggested introducing one.                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT stated that if it was the will of the                     
 committee, that would be fine.  He commented that he had a                    
 constituent notify the office that would've liked to have seen                
 this, a  statute calling upon the state to recognize it as a state            
 holiday.                                                                      
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES also felt it would be a fine idea to               
 make this an annual event but felt it would take another step to              
 make it a state holiday because of the financial implications, and            
 the fact that there's other events in history that would warrant              
 making them holidays also.                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 132                                                                    
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT agreed with Representative Davies.  To make this             
 a bill, we would have to re-draft this and bring it back before the           
 committee.  At this point we would have to table this resolution.             
                                                                               
 Number 147                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out that the committee could keep               
 this going as a committee sponsored resolution.  He then moved to             
 pass HCR 5 out of committee,  with unanimous consent.  He followed            
 that up with a motion that they sponsor a bill to make this a                 
 yearly event.                                                                 
                                                                               
 CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT addressed the first motion to move HCR 5 out of              
 the Military and Veteran Affairs Committee.  He asked, "is there              
 unanimous consent?"  Hearing no objection, it was so moved.  The              
 second motion was to tie this measure into statute and make it an             
 annual event.  There was no objection to this motion,                         
 Representative Kott indicated that a bill would be requested and              
 brought to committee.