Bill Text: MS SC523 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend World War II Veteran and Newton County resident Vernon Gibbs for receiving the French Legion of Honor Medal.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-01-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC523 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-SC523-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Burton, Browning, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), McDaniel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Powell, Stone, Ward, Watson, Wilemon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 523
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING AND COMMENDING WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND NEWTON COUNTY RESIDENT VERNON GIBBS FOR RECEIVING THE FRENCH NATIONAL ORDER OF THE LEGION OF HONOR.
WHEREAS, a World War II Veteran from Mississippi has received the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest military honor; and
WHEREAS, Vernon Gibbs and others in attendance were emotional and proud as the medal was pinned on him during a ceremony in Meridian, Mississippi, on December 14, 2009. The 84-year-old Newton County resident said there were days as a young infantryman with the 45th Infantry Division that he didn't think he would see the next sunrise; and
WHEREAS, Larry Wert from the Office of United States Representative Greg Harper pinned the medal on Gibbs. "The medal is being bestowed upon American service members who helped liberate France and who have been highly decorated by the United States for bravery and valor. Vernon Gibbs is one of them"; and
WHEREAS, Gibbs recalled battles on the shores of Italy during late January and February 1945 with his unit fighting its way through France and into Germany. "I still don't know how I got through all that," he said. "God was watching out for me." Especially on January 17, 1945, when, during a massive, six-hour German artillery barrage in the mountains surrounding the small Town of Rambervillers, France, Gibbs and two other men first laid a communication line and then ran up and down its entire length in the shelling to ensure battalion headquarters could talk to their company commanders on the front lines. "It was too rocky to dig a foxhole so we dodged in between boulders and rocks," said Gibbs; and
WHEREAS, for this action, Vernon Gibbs was awarded the Bronze Star, a United States decoration awarded for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service. It was this decoration that drew the attention of French officials as they ran their lists of veterans who deserved the French National Order of the Legion of Honor Medal, equivalent to America's Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, the Legion d'honneur or Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur was established by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802; and
WHEREAS, "I'm just so happy for him," said Vernon Gibbs' daughter, Deborah Parker. "For him to finally get this medal means the world to him"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the citizens of France and the United States in recognizing the heroic service of this Mississippian:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby salute and commend World War II Veteran and Newton County resident Vernon Gibbs upon his receipt of the French National Order of the Legion of Honor Medal, and we extend to him and his family the thanks of a grateful state and nation for the selfless service of this combat veteran who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Vernon Gibbs and his family, forwarded to Mississippi's congressional delegation and the General Office of the United States Army, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
