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1997 SESSION

975907172
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 472
Offered January 15, 1997
Memorializing the United States Postal Service to issue a postage stamp commemorating Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller.
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Patrons-- Cox, Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Armstrong, Baker, Barlow, Behm, Bennett, Bloxom, Brickley, Bryant, Callahan, Cantor, Christian, Clement, Connally, Cooper, Councill, Cranwell, Crittenden, Croshaw, Crouch, Cunningham, Darner, Davies, DeBoer, Deeds, Diamonstein, Dickinson, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Forbes, Grayson, Griffith, Guest, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Heilig, Howell, Hull, Ingram, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Katzen, Keating, Kilgore, Landes, Lovelace, Marshall, May, McClure, McDonnell, McEachin, Melvin, Mims, Moore, Moran, Morgan, Moss, Murphy, Nelms, Nixon, O'Brien, Orrock, Parrish, Phillips, Plum, Puller, Purkey, Putney, Reid, Rhodes, Robinson, Rollison, Ruff, Rust, Scott, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Tata, Tate, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Wagner, Wardrup, Watkins, Watts, Way, Weatherholtz, Wilkins and Woodrum; Senators: Barry, Benedetti, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Couric, Earley, Edwards, Gartlan, Hanger, Hawkins, Holland, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Potts, Quayle, Reasor, Reynolds, Saslaw, Schrock, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Trumbo, Waddell, Walker, Wampler, Whipple, Williams and Woods
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, a native Virginian, was the most decorated Marine in the 221-year history of the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, a native of West Point, Virginia, Lewis Puller entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1917, leaving in 1918 to enlist in the Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, during the course of his 37-year career with the Marine Corps, Lewis Puller served at sea or overseas for 27 years, served his nation during World War I, World War II, and Korea, and is the only Marine to be awarded the Navy Cross five times for heroism and gallantry in combat; and

WHEREAS, General Puller was the veteran of four World War II campaigns, five Korean War campaigns, and saw expeditionary service in China, Nicaragua, and Haiti; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his five Navy Crosses, General Puller won countless medals from foreign governments and 14 U.S. personal combat decorations, including a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star, an Air Medal with two stars, and a Purple Heart; and

WHEREAS, General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller died on October 11, 1971, in Hampton, Virginia, and is buried near the town of Saluda in Middlesex County; and

WHEREAS, the year 2000 will mark the 50th anniversary both of General Puller's last combat service during the Korean War and of the Chosin Reservoir campaign of 1950; and

WHEREAS, General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, a legendary American hero, is an entirely appropriate subject for commemoration by the United States Postal Service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby urge the United States Postal Service to issue a postage stamp honoring Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller in the year 2000; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the Postmaster General of the United States so that he may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia.