PRINTER'S NO. 2118
No. 250 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, MUSTO AND LEMMOND, JUNE 18, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JUNE 18, 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 displayed extraordinary heroism and 7 patriotism while serving as a machine gunner near Sars la 8 Bruyere, Belgium, where, during an attack on the night of 9 September 4, 1944, he feigned his death only to rise to confront 10 enemy soldiers until their surrender the next morning; and 11 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli was awarded the Congressional Medal of 12 Honor by President Truman on June 15, 1945, a symbol of the 13 President's and our nation's gratitude and recognition of his 14 unparalleled and limitless bravery, gallantry, patriotism and 15 courage; and 16 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Bronze 17 Star, a Battle of the Bulge Medal and the Humanitarian Award of
1 the Chapel of the Four Chaplains; and 2 WHEREAS, Mr. Merli remained active in veterans affairs for 3 the remainder of his life through his membership in the Shopa- 4 Davey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6082, the A. Pierson Hurd 5 American Legion Post 236, the Disabled American Veterans and the 6 Military Order of the Cootie; and 7 WHEREAS, As a humble and hardworking advocate for veterans 8 rights, Mr. Merli helped others through his work as an 9 adjudication officer at the Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in 10 Wilkes-Barre; and 11 WHEREAS, Gino Merli was the beloved husband of Mary, and 12 loving father to Dr. Gino, Philip and Maria; therefore be it 13 RESOLVED, That the Senate note with great sadness the passing 14 of Gino J. Merli and extend condolences to his family and 15 friends; and be it further 16 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 17 the family of Gino J. Merli. F18L81BIL/20020S0250R2118 - 2 -