Baker Appointed to Medal of Honor Memorial Committee

HARRISBURG (July 26, 2011) -- Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) has been appointed to a special committee created to study ways to honor future Medal of Honor recipients in Pennsylvania.

The appointment was made by Rep. Stephen Barrar, Majority Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

The Select Committee, authorized by House Resolution 331, will plan for the future use of Soldiers' Grove and the Medal of Honor Memorial in Harrisburg.  This area lies on the state Capitol Complex grounds, and features memorial stones which pay tribute to every Congressional Medal of Honor recipient in a hallowed garden named the "Tides of War."

Pennsylvania currently has 378 Medal of Honor recipients.  With only 20 feet of open space remaining to honor future military heroes, the garden is projected to run out of space by 2016.

A report on the future of the memorial is expected by November 30, 2012.