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Committee endorses bill to name stretch of Highway 18 for Medal of Honor recipient Henry Gerke
Summary
The House Transportation Committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 1212, which would designate a portion of State Highway 18 as the Henry Gerke Memorial Highway in recognition of a World War II Medal of Honor recipient from Nitschee. The committee voted unanimously to advance the bill.
Representative Munson presented House Bill 1212, asking the committee to name a portion of State Highway 18 in northeast North Dakota the “Bridal First Class Henry Gerke Memorial Highway” to honor Henry Gerke, a World War II Marine who reportedly sacrificed his life by jumping on a grenade to save a comrade.
"He was given the Medal of Honor... he jumped on that grenade and blew himself up to save the person, his friend," Representative Munson said, describing Gerke’s service in the Solomon Islands and the desire of his hometown, Nitschee, to preserve his memory with a highway designation.
No witnesses spoke in opposition. The committee moved the bill forward: Representative Christensen moved a do-pass recommendation and Representative Johnston seconded. A roll-call recommendation was recorded; the clerk read a series of members who each voted yes on the committee recommendation.
The committee chair declared the motion carried and asked for a committee volunteer to carry the bill to the floor. Representative Hendricks was noted as the carry. The do-pass recommendation advances HB 1212 to the next stage in the legislative process.
