Civic Soldiers

NCSL News graphic

July 31, 2003

State Legislators and Staff Called into Military Service Receive NCSL Medal

NY Assemblyman Daniel Hooker Accepts on Behalf of all Recipients

SAN FRANCISCO - Twenty state legislators and state legislative staff from 15 states who were called into action during recent military actions were awarded the National Conference of State Legislatures' Medal of Civic Honor last week.

During its 2003 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, NCSL paid tribute to those who either participated in the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or the fight against global terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom). New York Assemblyman Daniel Hooker accepted the award on behalf of the many recipients who could not attend the ceremony.

Oklahoma Senator Angela Monson, President of NCSL, presided over the ceremony and dedicated the opening session to the "heroes among our own ranks, civic soldiers who play a very unique role in our homeland democracy." Senator Monson praised the public servants for their commitment to their state and to their nation.

Recipients of the 2003 NCSL Medal of Civic Honor include:

Jeff Danzinger from California, a member of the Assembly Republican Caucus and a Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve.
Matt Rexroad from California, a member of the Assembly Minority Office and a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Special Forces in Iraq.
Carey L. Baker from Florida, a Representative and First Sergeant in the Florida Army National Guard.
Chris Elrod from Georgia, a Representative and Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Coast Guard Reserve.
Lee Tafanelli from Kansas, a Representative and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard.
Jim Vallee from Massachusetts, a Representative and Captain in the Army Reserve.
Brian Golden from Massachusetts, a Representative and Major in the Army Reserve.
Joe Kenney from New Hampshire, a Senator and Major in the Marine reserve.
William A. Kraus from New York, a Sr. Program Manager for Program & Development for the Assembly and Commander in the Navy.
Frank Hoare from New York, a Counsel to the Chairman of Assembly Ways and Means and a Major in the Army.
Rowland Evans from New York, a Computer Program Analyst for the Assembly and Chief Warrant Officer in the National Guard.
Daniel Hooker from New York, an Assemblyman and Major in the Marine Reserve.
John Boccieri from Ohio, a Representative and Captain in the Air Force Reserve.
John R. Pippy from Pennsylvania, a Senator and Captain in the Army Reserve.
Phil Lenski from South Carolina, a General Counsel to the Clerk of the Senate and Major in the Army Reserve.
John Mark Windle from Tennessee, a Representative and Captain in the National Guard.
Rick Noriega from Texas, a Representative and Major in the National Guard.
Bill Greer from Utah, a Senior Fiscal Analyst and Sergeant, 1^st class in the National Guard.
Doran Metzger from Vermont, a Representative and 2^nd Lieutenant in the National Guard.
Scott Southworth from Wisconsin, a member of the Office of Representative Sheryl Albers and Captain in the Army Reserve.

NCSL also announced a new initiative in its ongoing effort to promote representative democracy in the homeland.

NCSL released a new publication entitled Representative Democracy and You, which outlines the benefits of the American form of government. It includes America's Democracy Challenge, a survey intended to reveal Americans' attitudes toward representative democracy.