Pennsylvania Act 2024-145 — GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL MONUMENT - DESIGNATION

Act text

An Act

Providing for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on the grounds of the State Capitol to honor and remember those who have fallen in the line of duty and those left behind.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Findings.

The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) The Hershel "Woody" Williams Medal of Honor Foundation was founded in 2010 on the pillars of pride for our homeland, love of one's family, the braveness of the patriot, the selflessness of sacrifice and the inspiring legacy left by those who have paid the ultimate price.

(2) The Gold Star Family Memorial Monument was designed by Woody Williams and Kenton Blackwood, an architect from West Virginia.

(3) The monument itself was designed to be made up of four black granite slabs with the words, "Gold Star Family Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Mothers, Fathers, and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom," featured on one side, with four scenes depicting Homeland, Patriot, Family and Sacrifice on each panel on the other side.

(4) The MI Charitable Foundation has accepted responsibility for preparation, acquisition of supplies necessary to erect the monument, construction of the monument in its entirety, scheduling the appropriate maintenance for the monument in perpetuity and all costs associated with doing so.

(5) The Department of General Services shall work to facilitate the MI Charitable Foundation during the preparation of the designated site and continued maintenance of the monument.

Section 2. Location of monument.

The area lying south of the Forum Building, east of the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Office Building and north of Walnut Street on the grounds of the State Capitol shall be the location for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.

Section 3. Department of General Services.

(a) Cooperation.--The department shall cooperate with the MI Charitable Foundation and facilitate its construction, placement and maintenance of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument.

(b) Construction.--Except as provided in subsection (a), nothing in this act shall be construed to impose any duties upon the Department of General Services.

Section 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.