A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORing NORTH CAROLINA'S VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, NAVY CROSS, AIR FORCE CROSS, or SILVER STAR, THE NATION'S HIGHEST AWARDS FOR VALOR and honoring the memory of the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the military.
Whereas, North Carolina is proud to be home to more than 110,000 military personnel and nearly 770,000 veterans of our nation's armed forces; and
Whereas, the State of North Carolina expresses its gratitude to all current and retired military personnel for their service to the United States, especially to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and the freedoms of all Americans; and
Whereas, the General Assembly wishes to specifically recognize those North Carolina war veterans who have received the nation's highest honors for bravery; and
Whereas, the Medal of Honor is the nation's highest medal for valor that can be awarded to members of the armed forces; and
Whereas, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded since the decoration was created in 1861; and
Whereas, the Distinguished Service Cross was first established in 1918 as the second‑highest honor for members of the military, but in later years Congress saw fit to establish awards of similar stature, just beneath the Medal of Honor, for specific branches of the armed forces; and
Whereas, today, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, and the Air Force Cross are our nation's second‑highest awards for valor, second only to the Medal of Honor; and
Whereas, today, the Distinguished Service Cross recognizes a person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Army, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing or foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; and
Whereas, the Navy Cross, which was first established in 1919 as a medal of lesser importance, was revised by Congress to recognize extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor, by any person, who while serving with the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, or the United States Coast Guard while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States in not a belligerent party; and
Whereas, the Air Force Cross was established in 1960 to recognize extraordinary heroism, not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor, by any person, who while serving with the United States Air Force while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States in not a belligerent party; and
Whereas, the Silver Star was first established by Congress in 1918 as the Citation Star for United States Army personnel and was later amended so that it may be awarded to any individual – military, civilian, or foreign – who, while serving in any capacity with the armed forces of the United States, distinguishes himself or herself by gallantry in action under any of the following circumstances: (i) against an enemy of the United States; (ii) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; (iii) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; and
Whereas, these aforementioned medals are the nation's highest honors bestowed to members of the military in order to recognize valor and gallantry; and
Whereas, on behalf of the State of North Carolina, the General Assembly wishes to express its profound appreciation to those North Carolinians who have received such prestigious awards for their bravery; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors those members of the military who have lost their lives in the defense of the safety and liberty of the people of the United States of America.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly acknowledges and expresses its appreciation and gratitude to those North Carolinians, both living and deceased, who have received the nation's highest medals for their valor and gallantry.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.