00                   HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 48                                                                   
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, and the United States                                
13 Navy who are state residents or who were stationed in the state to protect the United States                            
14 from terrorist groups based in Iraq and Afghanistan; and                                                                
15       WHEREAS, in the course of active and unpredictable military duty, members of the                                
16 military often become engaged in dangerous situations, endangering their own lives as they                              

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

01 State of Alaska to the members of our armed forces who sacrificed their lives in defense of                             
02 our nation and its freedoms and to their loved ones.