III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 477 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 15, 2006 Mr. Lott submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the date that Rick Monday heroically rescued the American Flag from being desecrated and recognizing Rick Monday for his courage and patriotism.

Whereas, on April 25, 1976, Rick Monday played centerfield for the Chicago Cubs in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium; Whereas, during the 4th inning of that game, 2 individuals ran onto the outfield of Dodger Stadium, doused an American Flag with lighter fluid, and attempted to set the Flag on fire; Whereas, once Rick Monday recognized that those individuals were about to publicly desecrate the American Flag, he quickly ran towards those individuals and grabbed the American Flag from them just as they were attempting to place a lit match on to the Flag; Whereas the patriotic act of Rick Monday to rescue the American Flag inspired— (1)the crowd at Dodger Stadium to stand in ovation and spontaneously begin singing God Bless America; (2)millions of citizens throughout the United States, especially those citizens who were serving or had served in the Armed Forces; and (3)citizens of the United States who today continue look to the Flag as a symbol of liberty and justice; Whereas Rick Monday, after reflecting on his act of rescuing the American Flag, said: That flag represents all the rights and freedoms that we have in this country. If you desecrate the flag, you desecrate the efforts of all the people who fought and died to protect those rights and freedoms.; Whereas the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame recognizes the actions taken by Rick Monday when he saved the American Flag as 1 of the 100 Classic Moments in the history of baseball; Whereas Rick Monday served the United States honorably and courageously in the Marine Corps Reserve for over 6 years; Whereas Rick Monday was a 2-time Major League Baseball All-Star during his distinguished, 19-year career; and Whereas April 25, 2006, marked the 30th anniversary of the date that Rick Monday saved the American Flag from being desecrated: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)commemorates the 30th anniversary of the date that Rick Monday heroically rescued the American Flag from being desecrated; (2)recognizes Rick Monday for— (A)his courage and patriotism; (B)upholding the noble ideals and freedoms represented by the American Flag; and (C)honoring the men and women whose sacrifices have protected those ideals and freedoms; (3)respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to— (A)Rick Monday; (B)the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York; (C)the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig; (D)the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers owner, Frank McCourt; and (E)the owner of the Chicago Cubs, the Tribune Company.