GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 340

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Sponsors: Senators Basnight, Carpenter; Albertson, Allran, Ballance, Ballantine, Blust, Carrington, Clark, Cochrane, Conder, Cooper, Dalton, Dannelly, East, Forrester, Foxx, Garwood, Gulley, Hartsell, Horton, Hoyle, Jenkins, Jordan, Kerr, Kincaid, Kinnaird, Ledbetter, Lee, Lucas, Martin of Pitt, Martin of Guilford, McDaniel, Miller, Odom, Page, Perdue, Phillips, Plyler, Rand, Reeves, Rucho, Shaw of Cumberland, Shaw of Guilford, Soles, Warren, Webster, Weinstein, and Wellons.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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March 10, 1997

A JOINT RESOLUTION INVITING THE REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM TO ADDRESS A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.
Whereas, Billy Graham has distinguished himself through his contributions to morality, racial equality, family, philanthropy, and religion; and
Whereas, perhaps America's most respected and admired evangelical leader of the past half century, Billy Graham has reached millions of people through crusades and television; and
Whereas, Billy Graham has exemplified the highest ideals of teaching, counseling, ethics, charity, faith, and family; and
Whereas, Billy Graham's daily newspaper column and numerous books have provided spiritual counseling and personal enrichment to millions of people; and
Whereas, Billy Graham and Ruth Graham, his wife of 52 years, have been the driving force to create the Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, whose vision it is to improve the health and well-being of children and to become a new resource for ending the pain and suffering of children; and
Whereas, Billy Graham has received numerous awards and honorary degrees including the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996, the North Carolina Award for Public Service in 1986, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983, the Sylvanus Thayer Award from the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates at West Point in 1972, the International Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1971, and the Gold Award of the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute in 1963; and
Whereas, Billy Graham has participated in eight presidential inaugurations from the inauguration of President Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 to the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1997;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  The Reverend Billy Graham is invited to address a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the Hall of the House of Representatives.
Section 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Reverend Billy Graham.
Section 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.