PRINTER'S NO. 1925
No. 305 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY SEMMEL, GOODMAN, ELLIS, TIGUE, STERN, ALLEN,
BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR, BUNT, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CORNELL,
CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALLY, FAIRCHILD, FEESE,
FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FLICK, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH,
GOOD, GRUCELA, HABAY, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS,
HICKERNELL, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, LEDERER, MAJOR, MANN, McGILL,
McILHATTAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MUSTIO, NAILOR, PAYNE,
PISTELLA, PYLE, QUIGLEY, RAPP, READSHAW, ROHRER, ROSS,
RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SCAVELLO, SHANER, B. SMITH,
SOLOBAY, R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, TRUE, WATSON, WOJNAROSKI
AND ZUG, MAY 10, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 10, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Commending the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission and
2 designating the month of June 2005 as "Pennsylvania Veterans'
3 Memorial Month."
4 WHEREAS, In April 1988 the General Assembly, recognizing the
5 great contributions and unselfish sacrifices of Pennsylvania's
6 veterans, established the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
7 Commission; and
8 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission was
9 charged with the mission of raising funds for and erecting on
10 the grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery an
11 appropriately patriotic and positive memorial as a testament of
12 appreciation from the people of this Commonwealth to
13 Pennsylvania veterans; and
1 WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1988, more than 30
2 Pennsylvania veterans and officials have served with distinction
3 as members of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission has
6 served the Commonwealth in an outstanding manner, accomplishing
7 its mission and erecting the beautiful Pennsylvania Veterans'
8 Memorial at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery; and
9 WHEREAS, In accomplishing its mission, the Pennsylvania
10 Veterans' Memorial Commission helped raise more than $7 million,
11 including $4.5 million appropriated by the General Assembly and
12 $2.5 million raised from donations, for the design,
13 construction, operation and maintenance of the Pennsylvania
14 Veterans' Memorial, which cost $6.296 million to build; and
15 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial was dedicated on
16 October 7, 2001; and
17 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial, designed by
18 Pennsylvania architect Charles J. Frederick, Jr., is situated on
19 a gentle hillside with a panoramic view of the rolling landscape
20 where thousands of Pennsylvania veterans rest; and
21 WHEREAS, These lines from Theodore O'Hara's "Bivouac of the
22 Dead" are inscribed in many of our National Cemeteries:
23 The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
24 The soldiers' last tattoo;
25 No more life's parade shall meet
26 That brave and fallen few.
27 On fame's eternal camping-ground
28 Their silent tents are spread,
29 And glory guards with solemn round
30 The bivouac of the dead;
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1 and
2 WHEREAS, In measuring 360 feet by 85 feet, the Pennsylvania
3 Veterans' Memorial was designed to evoke the ruins of a war-torn
4 house of worship; and
5 WHEREAS, Its solemn architecture combines the elements of
6 land, air and water--trees, fountains and the open sky above--to
7 represent the battlefields where veterans fought to defend
8 America's freedom; and
9 WHEREAS, Pursuant to law, the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
10 Commission expires on June 30, 2005, and the commission holds
11 its final meeting on May 11, 2005; and
12 WHEREAS, The success of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
13 Commission, fueled by the dedicated service of the members of
14 the General Assembly, veterans and State government officials
15 who have served on the commission, truly represents Pennsylvania
16 at its best; and
17 WHEREAS, The foresight of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
18 Commission in raising funds and planning for the perpetual
19 maintenance and care of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial has
20 resulted in the largest and finest state veterans' memorial in
21 the United States; therefore be it
22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the past
23 and present members of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
24 Commission, the staff of the Department of Military and Veterans
25 Affairs and its Bureau of Veterans Affairs and the staff of the
26 Indiantown Gap National Cemetery for their outstanding work and
27 dedicated service in raising funds for, arranging the design and
28 construction of and maintaining the Pennsylvania Veterans'
29 Memorial; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
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1 month of June 2005 as "Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Month" in
2 honor of the service of the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial
3 Commission, with lasting appreciation to all members and staff,
4 and encourage all Pennsylvanians to honor our veterans and their
5 service by visiting the memorial during the month of June.
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