OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new law Monday enabling the communities of Oso, Darrington and Arlington and the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe to receive the state’s Medal of Valor later this month.
The medal is one of the state’s highest civilian honors and will recognize heroism demonstrated by people in response to the deadly Oso mudslide.
“We all know the heartbreak from the landslide in Oso,” Inslee said before signing the law. “It was so deep in our state and now this bill will allow the honoring of many heroic individuals and groups that at great personal peril responded to the tragedy.”
Representatives of the communities and tribe will receive the medals in a special joint session of the House and Senate March 18.
The March 22, 2014, landslide killed 43 people.
Recipients of the Medal of Valor are chosen by a committee made up of the governor, the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives and chief justice of the state Supreme Court, or their designees.
“It’s great to honor those who’ve done so much and realizing there are so many heroes out there, I wish we could give it to everybody in the Stilly Valley,” said Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, sponsor of Senate Bill 5035 signed by the governor.
Until Monday, state law only allowed individuals to receive the honor. The new law expands eligibility rules to include communities and tribes.
It passed 47-0 in the Senate and 97-0 in the House.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com and @dospueblos
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
