---
title: HR 182. Graziano, Retired Master Sergeant Louis C.; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr182
cite_as: HR 182, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr182
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr182.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr182/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69995
date: 2025-02-05
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr181.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr183.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr182.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 182
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-05
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Gary Richardson
  - Charles Cannon
  - David Clark
  - Mitchell Horner
  - Josh Bonner
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR182/2025
upstream_id: 1958452
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - veterans
  - World War II history
  - commemorative resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
---

# HR 182. Graziano, Retired Master Sergeant Louis C.; commend

## Text

House Resolution 182
By: Representatives Richardson of the 125th, Cannon of the 172nd, Clark of the 100th, Horner
of the 3rd, and Bonner of the 73rd
A RESOLUTION
Commending and congratulating Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano was born in 1923, making him the
last surviving World War II veteran to witness Germany's surrender, and this year he enjoys
the rare distinction of celebrating his 102nd birthday; and
WHEREAS, this distinguished individual landed on Omaha Beach with the Third Wave on
D-Day, courageously driving a tanker truck full of gasoline through the battlefield while
under relentless machine gun fire from German forces positioned on the cliffs above; and
WHEREAS, after D-Day, he was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost lost
his feet to frostbite, and he took part in the June 6th invasion of Normandy in 1944; and
WHEREAS, he served as the utilities foreman for the 102nd Infantry Field Artillery
Battalion Special Headquarters Command in Reims, France, where he was responsible for
all American-occupied buildings in Reims, including the Little Red Schoolhouse where
Germany signed the surrender document; and
WHEREAS, after witnessing the signing, Retired Master Sergeant Graziano personally
escorted the German delegation to another room to meet General Dwight D. Eisenhower; and
WHEREAS, Retired Master Sergeant Graziano met his future wife, Eula "Bobbie"
Shaneyfelt, while he was in Reims, where she served as a staff sergeant in the Women's
Army Corps, and the couple moved back to the United States and raised five children, Louis,
Moira, Marsha, David, and Kim; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of his extraordinary service, he has received numerous medals
and commendations throughout his life, including being knighted by the Consul General of
the Republic of France in 2021 as a recipient of the French Legion Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, by the example Retired Master Sergeant Graziano has made of his life, he
makes this world a better place in which to live, and it is only fitting and proper that he be
appropriately recognized during this very special and memorable time.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano for his
unselfish, dedicated, and loving service to the members of his family, state, and nation;
congratulate him on the remarkable occasion of his 102nd birthday; and extend their most
sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution commends Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano, a World War II veteran, on his 102nd birthday and honors his military service and life story.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a ceremonial honor, not a change to state law. It recognizes Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano, born in 1923, who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and served in Reims, France, where he witnessed Germany's surrender and later received France's Legion of Honor medal.
The resolution formally commends Graziano for his service to his family, state, and nation, congratulates him on turning 102, and wishes him continued health. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for him. It does not create any new law, funding, or program.

### What it does

- Formally commends Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano for his military service and personal life.
- Congratulates him on reaching his 102nd birthday as one of the last surviving witnesses to Germany's World War II surrender.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him.
- Creates no new statute, funding, or ongoing legal obligation, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than a law.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names and honors Retired Master Sergeant Louis C. Graziano and references his family, including his late wife Eula 'Bobbie' Shaneyfelt and his five children. It has no regulatory effect on any broader group of Georgians.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians generally; its significance is symbolic, giving official state recognition to a World War II veteran's service and long life through a formal House document he can keep.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recount Graziano's World War II service, including landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and serving in Reims, France, during Germany's surrender.
- The first resolving clause has the House of Representatives commend and congratulate Graziano and wish him continued health and happiness.
- The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for Graziano.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-05)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-05)
- Sponsors: Gary Richardson, Charles Cannon, David Clark, Mitchell Horner, Josh Bonner
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69995

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr182.md?full=1