Convention Committee on National Security Supports State Funeral's Work

ONE-HUNDREDTH NATIONAL CONVENTION

OF

THE AMERICAN LEGION

Minneapolis, Minnesota

August 28 - 30, 2018

Resolution No. 41: State Funeral For The Last World War II Medal Of Honor Recipient

Origin: Virginia

Submitted by: Convention Committee on National Security

WHEREAS, The time has come to prepare for a final salute to our World War II service members for which 472 Medals of Honor were awarded an only four of those recipients survive today; and

WHEREAS, The opportunity is slipping away for “A funeral not for one man, but to join the hearts and minds of 330 million Americans”; and

WHEREAS, Only three classes of citizens are entitled to a state funeral: a president-elect who dies before being sworn into office, a sitting president or former president of the United States, and any other person designated by the president; and

WHEREAS, In view of the foregoing, we the membership of The American Legion, respectfully petition the president of the United States to designate that the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient lie in state on behalf of the 16 million World War II veterans as a final tribute to their service and sacrifice to achieve world peace in troubled times; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 28, 29, 20, 2018, That The American Legion support a petition to the president of the United States, on behalf of more than 16 million veterans of World War II, to designate a state funeral for the last living Medal of Honor recipient – not for one man, but to join together the hearts of millions of Americans in a unifying event honoring the legacy of all World War II veterans.