Senate Resolution 15 passes unanimously.
DOVER, DE – On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, the Delaware State Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 15 (SR 15).
Introduced by Senator Dave Lawson (R-Marydel), SR 15 respectfully requests the President of the United States award Vietnam War veteran Jan C. Scruggs the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Mr. Scruggs was a rifleman with the 199th Infantry Brigade. During his year-long tour, half of his unit was either killed or wounded, including suffering wounds himself. Following his tour, he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In the years after his service, Mr. Scruggs became an expert on PTSD and a strong advocate for those who served in Vietnam. He conceived the idea of building a wall memorializing those who lost their lives during the War.
“Mr. Scruggs is an inspiration,” said Senator Lawson. “As a Vietnam combat veteran myself, I understand the hardships faced by those who fought during the War. His commitment to helping veterans who made it back home and honoring those who lost their lives deserves recognition.”
Mr. Scruggs and volunteers helped raise more than $8 million from over 650,000 private donors for the wall. On Veterans Day in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was formally dedicated.
“I had the pleasure of recently meeting Mr. Scruggs and personally thanking him for both his service in the military and to our veterans after the War,” Senator Lawson stated. “I appreciate my Senate colleagues’ support of SR 15 and hope President Biden will award him this much-deserved accolade.”
Located in Washington D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall attracts an estimated 5 million visitors annually.
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