Bill Text: OR SCR22 | 2010 | 1st Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing service of United States Merchant Marine veterans during World War II.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-02-25 - Filed With Secretary of State. [SCR22 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2010-SCR22-Enrolled.html
75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2010 Special Session Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 Sponsored by Senators SCHRADER, ATKINSON, BOQUIST, FERRIOLI, GEORGE, GIROD, KRUSE; Senators BATES, BONAMICI, BURDICK, COURTNEY, DEVLIN, DINGFELDER, EDWARDS, HASS, JOHNSON, MONROE, MORRISETTE, MORSE, NELSON, PROZANSKI, ROSENBAUM, SHIELDS, STARR, TELFER, VERGER, WHITSETT, WINTERS (Presession filed.) Whereas the United States Merchant Marine served as the nation's first Navy and helped George Washington's Continental Army defeat the British Navy; and Whereas since 1775, United States Merchant Mariners have served valiantly in times of peace and in every war; and Whereas the United States Merchant Marine Academy is the only one of the five service academies that sends its cadets into war; and Whereas 142 undergraduates of the Academy were lost during World War II; and Whereas during World War II, Merchant Mariners served honorably in combat but were denied veterans' benefits and recognition at the end of the war despite sustaining the highest rate of casualties of any of the armed services; and Whereas more than 95 percent of the Allied Forces and materiel that were transported during World War II were transported by Merchant Marine ships; and Whereas the Merchant Mariners of World War II were denied the unprecedented benefits of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (known as the 'GI Bill of 1944'); and Whereas the story of the United States Merchant Mariners of World War II is one of patriotism, of youthful exuberance, of dedication to duty, of bravery in the midst of battle and of a nation that forgot these heroes after the end of the war for more than 40 years until they were given veteran status in 1988; and Whereas by that time, more than 125,000 of those Merchant Mariners had died and many had lost out on opportunities and benefits they greatly deserved; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: That we, the members of the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly, in special session assembled, recognize the tremendous sacrifices and contributions of the United States Merchant Marine and its veterans and the entire maritime industry to this state and nation during and following World War II; and be it further Resolved, That we recognize the heroic and invaluable sacrifices that United States Merchant Marine veterans have made to help ensure the prosperity and safety of this state and nation. ---------- Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 (SCR 22-INTRO) Page 1 Adopted by Senate February 11, 2010 ---------------------------------- Secretary of Senate ---------------------------------- President of Senate Adopted by House February 23, 2010 ---------------------------------- Speaker of House Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 (SCR 22-INTRO) Page 2