PRINTER'S NO. 4068
No. 612 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY STABACK, JUNE 20, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 20, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Expressing condolences on the passing of Gino J. Merli.
2 WHEREAS, Gino J. Merli passed away on June 11, 2002, at the
3 age of 78; and
4 WHEREAS, A beloved native son of Peckville, Mr. Merli was an
5 Army war hero by 18 years of age; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli took part in the D-Day invasion on June 6,
7 1944, going ashore at Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge
8 in December of 1944; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli displayed extraordinary heroism and
10 patriotism while serving as a machine gunner near Sars la
11 Bruyere, Belgium, where, during repeated attacks on the night of
12 September 4, 1944, he feigned his death while German soldiers
13 prodded him with their bayonets only to rise to confront enemy
14 soldiers until their surrender the next morning; and
15 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze
16 Star, a Battle of the Bulge Medal and the Humanitarian Award of
17 the Chapel of the Four Chaplains; and
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli was awarded the Congressional Medal of
2 Honor by President Truman on June 15, 1945, a symbol of the
3 President's and our nation's gratitude and recognition of his
4 unparalleled and limitless bravery, gallantry, patriotism and
5 courage; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli remained active in veterans affairs for
7 the remainder of his life through his membership in the Shopa-
8 Davey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6082, the A. Pierson Hurd
9 American Legion Post 236, the Disabled American Veterans' and
10 the Military Order of the Cootie; and
11 WHEREAS, As a humble and hardworking advocate for veterans'
12 rights, Mr. Merli helped others through his work as an
13 adjudication officer at the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in
14 Wilkes-Barre; and
15 WHEREAS, Gino Merli, the son of a coal miner, was the beloved
16 husband of Mary, and loving father to Dr. Gino, Philip and
17 Maria; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives note with great
19 sadness the passing of Gino J. Merli and extend condolences to
20 his family and friends; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
22 the family of Gino J. Merli.
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