Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
                    HOUSE CONCURRENT
                     RESOLUTION NO. 12
                            103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                           INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BARNES.
    0753H.01I                                                            JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk


                                           AN ACT
                               Relating to veterans week of service.


    Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

           WHEREAS, tens of millions of Americans have served in the United States Armed
 2 Forces since the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the American Revolutionary
 3 War or the War of Independence, in 1775; and
 4
 5         WHEREAS, the past and present sacrifices of each generation of American men and
 6 women who served in the Armed Forces and the hundreds of thousands who gave their lives
 7 to preserve our republic must and should be recognized and honored by all residents; and
 8
 9         WHEREAS, in 1919, President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed November 11th as
10 Armistice Day to honor veterans who fought in World War I and commemorate the
11 implementation of an armistice between the Allies and Germany at the 11th hour on the 11th
12 day of November; and
13
14         WHEREAS, in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation that
15 changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day; and
16
17         WHEREAS, in 1968, the Congress of the United States passed legislation that
18 established the fourth Monday in October as the day to commemorate and honor the military
19 service of generations of American veterans; and
20
21         WHEREAS, in 1978, Congress again passed legislation that reverted the national
22 observance of Veterans Day back to November 11th; and
HCR 12                                             2

23
24           WHEREAS, not unlike past generations of American veterans, some contemporary
25   members of our Armed Forces encounter unique and difficult circumstances when
26   transitioning from military to civilian life; and
27
28           WHEREAS, to meet the unique needs of Vietnam-era veterans and servicemembers
29   returning from deployment in the Middle East, especially Iraq and Afghanistan, some
30   veterans continue to lead and serve through the establishment of charitable organizations; and
31
32           WHEREAS, the Veterans Commission and many veteran service organizations in this
33   state provide essential housing, employment, education and training assistance, supportive
34   services, qualified referrals, and case management services to eligible veterans,
35   servicemembers, and their families with the goal of improving their self-sufficiency,
36   sustainability, and quality of life; and
37
38          WHEREAS, according to the latest data, the veteran population in this state totals
39   nearly 443,000 veterans; and
40
41           WHEREAS, there are many organizations in this state and nationwide that were
42   established by veterans to help veterans and as an extension of their legacy of service; and
43
44          WHEREAS, the recognition of Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to
45   thank veterans for their service and recognize their dedication to preserving our freedoms and
46   republic; and
47
48           WHEREAS, our annual commemoration of Veterans Day still embodies the original
49   purpose of President Woodrow Wilson's official Armistice Day proclamation in November
50   1919, as a day of reflection "to be filled with the solemn pride in the heroism of those who
51   died in the country's service"; and
52
53           WHEREAS, veterans serving veterans, inherent in the work of these kinds of
54   organizations, evidences the willingness of some veterans to continue to lead and answer the
55   call of service to our country, communities, and their peers; and
56
57         WHEREAS, these organizations should be honored and recognized for their efforts to
58   improve the quality of life of veterans in this state:
59
HCR 12                                            3

60          NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of
61   Representatives of the One Hundred Third General Assembly, First Regular Session, the
62   Senate concurring therein, hereby designate the week of November 4th through 11th each
63   year as "Veterans Week of Service" in Missouri to coincide with the annual Veterans Day
64   observance on November 11th; and
65
66           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all residents of this state are encouraged to
67   commemorate Veterans Day and Veterans Week of Service with solemn but thankful
68   reflection on the sacrifices and contributions of all veterans and the legacy of service many
69   veterans continue to make to our country, community, and peers in this state and nationwide;
70   and
71
72          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the Governor for his
73   approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.
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