Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Lawson
Sens. Brown, Buckson, Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lockman, Mantzavinos, S. McBride, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Poore, Richardson, Sokola, Sturgeon, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 15

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDAL TO JAN C. SCRUGGS.

WHEREAS, Jan C. Scruggs is a veteran of the Vietnam War and known as the “Founder of the Wall” for his role in conceiving the idea for the Vietnam Veterans Wall and bringing the project to fruition; and

WHEREAS, he grew up in Bowie, Maryland and enlisted in the United States Army in 1968 upon graduating high school; and

WHEREAS, one year later, Scruggs went to Vietnam as a rifleman with the 199 ^th Infantry Brigade for a year-long tour; and

WHEREAS, during this time, about half of his unit was killed or wounded, and Scruggs himself was wounded in action by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade; and

WHEREAS, Jan Scruggs received the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, and an award for gallantry; and

WHEREAS, following his tour of duty, Scruggs developed what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and

WHEREAS, Scruggs became an expert in PTSD, studying it at the graduate level, and advocating for his fellow veterans suffering from PTSD; and

WHEREAS, Scruggs testified before Congress in support of the establishment of the now nationwide Vet Center Program; and

WHEREAS, years later, Scruggs established the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to build a national memorial in Washington, D.C. in honor of the more than 58,000 heroes who lost their lives in Vietnam, as well as the survivors; and

WHEREAS, over the course of three years, Scruggs and volunteers worked to raise more than $8 million from over 650,000 private donors across the country; and

WHEREAS, the federal government contributed two-acres for the site, and on Veterans Day 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was formally dedicated; and

WHEREAS, this memorial attracts approximately 5 million visitors annually, thanks to the vision and dedication of American hero, Jan C. Scruggs.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware that we respectfully request the President of the United States of America award the Presidential Citizens Medal to Jan C. Scruggs.