A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Supporting the efforts of William "Bill" Casper as the South Dakota state chairman of the State Funeral for World War II Veterans in his efforts to petition President Donald J. Trump to hold a state funeral for World War II veterans.

WHEREAS, the state chairman of the State Funeral for World War II Veterans is charged with petitioning the President of the United States to hold a state funeral for the final WWII Veteran to be awarded the Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, over sixteen million Americans served their country and its allies over the course of World War II; and

WHEREAS, the generation of men and women who served our country in World War II has been called "the greatest generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that is awarded by the United States government; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is presented by the president of the United States, in the name of Congress; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; and

WHEREAS, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to our nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen since the creation of the award in 1861; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor was awarded to 473 Americans during World War II and only two of those 473 Americans are alive today; and

WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel W. Williams of West Virginia both served their country with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life and therefore deserve the gratitude of the American people; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has the sole authority to designate a state funeral; and

WHEREAS, historically, the President of the United States has designated state funerals for former presidents, generals, and other extraordinary Americans; and

WHEREAS, designating a state funeral when the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way for the American people to unite and honor all sixteen million soldiers, sailors, and airmen who served in our armed forces from 1941 to 1945:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that William "Bill" Casper be supported as the South Dakota state chairman of the State Funeral for World War II Veterans in his efforts to lobby President Donald J. Trump to hold a state funeral for World War II veterans.