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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 477 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 2006

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    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.

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.
                                 <all>
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