[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 10 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 10

              Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2019

     Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Mr. Cruz) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
              Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton.

Whereas, on May 11, 1906, Richard Arvin Overton was born to Gentry Overton, Sr., 
        and Elizabeth ``Lizzie'' Overton in Bastrop County, Texas;
Whereas, in 1940, Richard Arvin Overton enlisted in the Army and began his 
        military service at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas;
Whereas, from 1942 to 1945, Richard Arvin Overton bravely served in the Pacific 
        theater, including in Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima, with the 1887th 
        Engineer Aviation Battalion, an all African-American unit, until the 
        conclusion of World War II;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton attained the rank of corporal in the Army;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Meritorious 
        Unit Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense 
        Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign 
        Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Expert Rifle Marksmanship 
        Badge;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton returned to Austin, Texas, after the end of World 
        War II and resided there until his death;
Whereas, on November 11, 2013, Richard Arvin Overton was honored by former 
        President Barack Obama at Arlington National Cemetery for his courage 
        and commitment to service in combat zones such as Pearl Harbor, the 
        Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima;
Whereas, on January 3, 2015, Richard Arvin Overton represented The Greatest 
        Generation at the 2015 United States Army All-American Bowl in San 
        Antonio, Texas;
Whereas, on May 3, 2016, Richard Arvin Overton became the oldest surviving 
        veteran of the Armed Forces after the death of Frank Levingston, a 
        fellow World War II veteran;
Whereas, on May 11, 2016, Richard Arvin Overton attained 110 years of age and 
        became a supercentenarian;
Whereas, in Austin, Texas, May 11th of each year is designated as ``Richard 
        Overton Day'' in honor of Richard Arvin Overton's birthday;
Whereas, in 2017, the city of Austin, Texas, officially renamed the street on 
        which Richard Arvin Overton resided to ``Richard Overton Avenue'';
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton died on December 27, 2018;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton will be laid to rest with full military honors at 
        the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas; and
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton is a United States hero who exemplified strength, 
        sacrifice, and service to the country: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family of Richard 
        Arvin Overton on the occasion of his death;
            (2) honors the life of Richard Arvin Overton and his 
        service to the United States;
            (3) honors and, on behalf of the United States, expresses 
        deep appreciation for the outstanding and important service of 
        Richard Arvin Overton to the United States; and
            (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of 
        Richard Arvin Overton.
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