[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 59 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SUBMITTED RESOLUTONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 477--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

  Mr. LOTT submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 477

       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
       Resolved, 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.

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