PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 578
PRINTER'S NO. 754
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
539
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, BREWSTER, SCHWANK,
COSTA, KILLION, MENSCH, AUMENT, SABATINA AND YUDICHAK,
MARCH 24, 2017
SENATOR FOLMER, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, APRIL 25, 2017
AN ACT
Providing for the preservation and maintenance of the
Pennsylvania State area portion of the Medal of Honor Grove
in Schuylkill Township, Chester County.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Medal of
Honor Grove Act.
Section 2. Findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The 52-acre Freedom Foundation's Medal of Honor
Grove in Schuylkill Township, Chester County, is the nation's
oldest memorial site dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.
The site was dedicated October 1, 1964, through the work of
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Omar Bradley,
among others. It honors our nation's Medal of Honor
recipients.
(2) The Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military
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honor. Since its inception in 1862, it has been bestowed upon
346 Pennsylvanians and 3,498 individuals who attained
distinction through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while
engaged in the action against an enemy of the United States."
(3) The 52-acre grove is divided into one-acre plots
dedicated to each state in addition to the District of
Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(4) It is essential that the Commonwealth recognize and
preserve the Pennsylvania State area of the Medal of Honor
Grove and the individuals it represents so that their heroism
and service are never forgotten.
Section 3. Duties of the Department of General Services
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS.
The Department of General Services MILITARY AND VETERANS
AFFAIRS shall provide for the maintenance of the Pennsylvania
State area portion of the Medal of Honor Grove in Schuylkill
Township, Chester County.
Section 4. Contract for services.
The Department of General Services MILITARY AND VETERANS
AFFAIRS may contract with an organization that maintains any
portion of the grounds of the Medal of Honor Grove to provide
the following services for the Pennsylvania State area portion
of the Medal of Honor Grove:
(1) Arranging for the fabrication and installation of
new ground plaques for new Medal of Honor recipients.
(2) Engraving new Medal of Honor recipient names on the
State obelisk.
(3) Restoring or replacing any American, Commonwealth or
military flags.
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(4) Maintaining the landscape, trees, ground plaques,
State obelisk and flag poles.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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