1.1 	A resolution
1.2 	urging the President and Congress to designate a state funeral for the last surviving 
1.3 	World War II Medal of Honor recipient.
1.4 	WHEREAS, over 16 million Americans served in World War II; and
1.5 	WHEREAS, less than one-half of one million are alive today; and
1.6 	WHEREAS, hundreds of World War II veterans die every day; and
1.7 	WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota would like to honor the sacrifice of these veterans; and
1.8 	WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is our nation's highest military award for valor, awarded 
1.9 	to those who have displayed "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call 
1.10 	of duty;" and
1.11 	WHEREAS, the President of the United States has the authority to designate state funerals; 
1.12 	and
1.13 	WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States may pass a Concurrent Resolution to allow 
1.14 	an individual to lie in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and
1.15 	WHEREAS, designating a state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from 
1.16 	World War II would symbolically honor all World War II veterans; NOW, THEREFORE,
1.17 	BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the President 
1.18 	of the United States and the Congress of the United States to take all necessary measures to ensure 
1.19 	the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II be offered a state funeral, including, 
1.20 	but not limited to, having the option to lie in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol.
1.21 	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is directed 
1.22 	to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States, the 
2.1 	President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United 
2.2 	States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.