SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2015 SESSION


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 123
Commending Cary Jarvis.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2015
 

WHEREAS, in 1939, Cary Jarvis at the age of 17 volunteered for the Virginia National Guard to supplement his income as a soda jerk at Birtcherd’s Dairy in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, when Cary Jarvis became a member of the Virginia National Guard 111th Field Artillery Battalion, 29th Infantry Division, he had little knowledge of the conflict unfolding half a world away; and

WHEREAS, once World War II began, Cary Jarvis, then a private, served as a field artillery forward observer on the front lines alongside regular infantrymen, locating enemy targets and radioing locations back to the waiting artillerymen; and

WHEREAS, by D-Day, June 6, 1944, Cary Jarvis had risen to the rank of staff sergeant; his unit was part of the first wave to land at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, and it was tasked with the harrowing work of clearing the way for over 100,000 more troops; and

WHEREAS, within 10 minutes of heavy machine gun fire, all of the officers in Cary Jarvis’ unit were either killed or wounded; he received a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant and courageously led his men during the invasion; and

WHEREAS, Cary Jarvis later rose to the rank of first lieutenant and went on to serve on the front lines for the duration of the European campaign, until the Germans surrendered on May 8, 1945; and

WHEREAS, Cary Jarvis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions during World War II, but he refused to accept a Purple Heart for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the war; and

WHEREAS, after the war, Cary Jarvis returned to Birtcherd’s Dairy and served the community as a milk delivery driver, a position he held for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, on January 11, 2015, Cary Jarvis was awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest decoration bestowed by the French government; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That Cary Jarvis hereby be commended for his exceptional service to his country and selfless contributions to the liberation of Europe during World War II; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Cary Jarvis as an expression of the Senate of Virginia’s admiration for his accomplishments in service to his country.