[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 86 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6028-S6029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRASSLEY:
  S.J. Res. 38. A joint resolution providing for the designation of a 
Medal of Honor Flag and for presentation of that flag recipients of the 
Medal of Honor; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I am introducing a resolution to 
designate a Medal of Honor Flag to further honor those individuals who 
have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their country 
and to present that flag to each recipient of the Medal of Honor. This 
idea came from a constituent of mine, retired First Sergeant William 
Kendall of Jefferson, IA. Mr. Kendall had been thinking about another 
resident of Jefferson, Captain Darrell Lindsey, who was shot down while 
on a bombing mission over France during World War II. Captain Lindsey 
was able to keep his aircraft in the air long enough to allow the 
members of his crew to escape safely, but this action cost him his 
life. As a result of this selfless sacrifice, Captain Lindsey was 
awarded the Medal of Honor.
  A Medal of Honor monument commemorating this heroic Iowan now

[[Page S6029]]

stands on the courthouse lawn in Jefferson, IA. It was partly this 
monument and the proud history of his fellow Iowan that inspired Bill 
Kendall to ponder the heroism of all recipients of the Medal of Honor. 
He then began to wonder why there was no official flag to honor 
recipients of the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the Nation's 
highest award for bravery he felt that a flag would help to show 
respect for this award as well as all those who have earned it through 
their service to the United States of America. I agree.
  The Medal of Honor is not given out lightly. To date, only 3,439 
individuals have been awarded the Medal of Honor and there are only 143 
living recipients of this award. Each of the armed services has very 
strict regulations for judging whether an individual is entitled to the 
Medal of Honor. The award is only given for acts of exceptional bravery 
or self-sacrifice above and beyond what is expected and must involve 
risk of life. The deed must be proved by incontestable evidence of at 
least two eyewitnesses.
  I should also add that there is an Iowa connection going back to the 
creation of the Medal of Honor. In 1861, during the Civil War, Iowa 
Senator James Grimes introduced legislation in the Senate to create a 
Medal of Honor for the Navy. This first Medal of Honor was followed by 
similar awards for the other services. It is appropriate that another 
Iowan, Sergeant William Kendall, should create the first Medal of Honor 
flag.
  It is indeed right and appropriate to honor those Americans to whom 
we owe so much. Bill Kendall's idea for a Medal of Honor flag is a good 
one and I am honored to do what I can to help see his vision realized. 
I am pleased that the House has already acted on a similar measure and 
I hope my colleagues in the Senate will join me in this important 
initiative.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this resolution be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 38

       Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor 
     in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon 
     an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Medal of Honor was established by Congress 
     during the Civil War to recognize soldiers who had 
     distinguished themselves by gallantry in action;
       Whereas the Medal of Honor was conceived by Senator James 
     Grimes of the State of Iowa in 1861; and
       Whereas the Medal of Honor is the Nation's highest military 
     honor, awarded for acts of personal bravery or self-sacrifice 
     above and beyond the call of duty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF MEDAL OF HONOR FLAG.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag

       ``(a) Designation.--The Secretary of Defense shall design 
     and designate a flag as the Medal of Honor Flag. In selecting 
     the design for the flag, the Secretary shall consider designs 
     submitted by the general public.
       ``(b) Presentation.--The Medal of Honor Flag shall be 
     presented as specified in sections 3755, 6257, and 8755 of 
     title 10 and section 505 of title 14.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

     SEC. 2. PRESENTATION OF FLAG TO MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

       (a) Army.--(1) Chapter 357 of title 10, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 3741 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 3741 
     or 3752(a) of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``3755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

       (b) Navy and Marine Corps.--(1) Chapter 567 of such title 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 6257. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 6241 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 6241 
     or 6250 of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``6257. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

       (c) Air Force.--(1) Chapter 857 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 8755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 8741 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 8741 
     or 8752(a) of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``8755. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

       (d) Coast Guard.--(1) Chapter 13 of title 14, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 504 the following 
     new section:

     ``Sec. 505. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor 
       Flag

       ``The President shall provide for the presentation of the 
     Medal of Honor Flag designated under section 903 of title 36 
     to each person to whom a medal of honor is awarded under 
     section 491 of this title after the date of the enactment of 
     this section. Presentation of the flag shall be made at the 
     same time as the presentation of the medal under section 491 
     or 498 of this title.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
     504 the following new item:

``505. Medal of honor: presentation of Medal of Honor Flag.''.

       (e) Prior Recipients.--The President shall provide for the 
     presentation of the Medal of Honor Flag designated under 
     section 903 of title 36, United States Code, as added by 
     section 1(a), to each person awarded the Medal of Honor 
     before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution who 
     is living as of that date. Such presentation shall be made as 
     expeditiously as possible after the date of the designation 
     of the Medal of Honor Flag by the Secretary of Defense under 
     such section.

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