House Concurrent Resolution 6

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO WORLD WAR II COMBAT VETERAN, WILLIAM GARRETT, OF WINONA, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS RECEIPT OF THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR MEDAL.

WHEREAS, William Garrett of Winona, Mississippi, who served for 32 months during World War II, received the Legion of Honor Medal on September 27, 2012, from the government of France "with endless respect and affection, in recognition of your noble contribution during World War II and in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause."; and

WHEREAS, the Legion of Honor, awarded to Garrett by Denis Barbet, France's newly appointed Consul General to Atlanta, was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is designated by the French president to those who have served their country above and beyond the call of duty by rendering eminent services to the Republic of France or demonstrating exceptional courage, bravery, and a spirit of sacrifice beyond the ordinary, particularly in the military domain; and

WHEREAS, Garrett served as technician 4th grade of Company C, 245th Engineering Combat Battalion, helped free people from German concentration camps, and he humbly proclaims that what he and his fellow troops did during the war was a gentleman's duty, what they signed up to do; and

WHEREAS, Garrett joined the Army the day before Halloween in 1944, and on the day after Christmas, he arrived in France with his unit in the City of Le Havre, from which they traveled and crossed France toward the Eastern Front into Reims and stayed in Moselle through January 1945 where they swept for mines, built bridges and cleared roads for tanks and allied troops to pass; and

WHEREAS, he also faced combat in the Ardennes and on into Germany, and at the medal ceremony, Denis Barbet said he was touched to decorate Garrett and the other 11 men given the medal that day, stating, "I visited the beaches of Normandy as well as the American Military Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, and I was able to measure the sum of courage necessary to cross the defense lines, a courage that was often paid for at the cost of life, in order to liberate France and Europe."; and

WHEREAS, the 88-year-old veteran is happy to show visitors through the house he built with his own hands into the side of a hill outside of Winona, and on the wall next to the Garrett's front door is a picture of 15 people, almost in stairstep formation, showing his family where he was the middle brother of 13 siblings; and

WHEREAS, Garrett's proud family includes: wife, Lorene Ellingburg (deceased); three children, William Earnest Garrett, Rita G. Warren and Deborah G. Wilson; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the heroic actions of such a great American and Mississippian as Mr. Garrett, who helped protect civilization as we know it today:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to World War II Combat Veteran, William Garrett, of Winona, Mississippi, upon his receipt of the French Legion of Honor Medal by the French consulate, and commend this living veteran who served in combat operations in France, and extend the appreciation of a grateful state to him and his family on this occasion and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to William Garrett, the Mississippi Division of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and to the members of Capitol Press Corps.