Articles of interest of our great little town
The Next Step in the Naming of the Major Lawrence Bridge
The Next Step in the Naming of the Major Lawrence Bridge
House Bill 1278 will now be returned to the House to see if the House concurs with the amendment. The chairman of the Public Works & Highways Committee will probably confer with that Committee. If the committee concurs with changes in the bill, then the Chairman will bring the bill to the full House explaining the change and the full House votes to concur or not. If not, then the bill would be assigned to a Committee of Conference (members of House & Senate confer) to iron out differences. If the Full House votes in favor of the amended bill, the bill would be forwarded to the Governor.
Success
State Senator James P. Gray (Jim) District 6
Office (603) 271-3042
Home (603) 332-7144
From: Senate Communications <[email protected]>
Date: March 22, 2018 at 10:46:06 AM EDT
Subject: RELEASE: Gray commends support for naming Farmington bridge after Major John W. Lawrence Jr.
New Hampshire Senate
News Release
For Immediate Release:
March 22, 2018
Media Contact:
Kate Spiner
(603) 271-3043
Gray commends support for naming Farmington bridge after Major John W. Lawrence Jr.
Concord, NH -- Senator James Gray issued a statement following the Senate’s passage of a bill with the amendment, HB 1278, to name a bridge in Farmington on the Cocheco River the Major John W. Lawrence Jr. Bridge.
“Passing legislation that would allow a bridge on Route 153 over the Cocheco River in Farmington to be named after Major John W. Lawrence who was a longtime member of the community and an honorable member of the U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division serving in the Vietnam War.”
“Among many of his accomplishments as a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy West Point and as an Artillery Officer, he rose to the rank of Major during his years of service between 1961 and 1971, but is renowned for his courage and leadership in challenging situations.”
“Major Lawrence received two Silver Stars for two separate actions during his service in Vietnam, including the incident on September 16, 1971 when his unit was sent in to support soldiers who had been ambushed by the Viet Cong. While his unit successfully completed their mission, Major Lawrence was fatally wounded in the process. It is clear that he gave his all to protect his fellow soldiers and his courage is what helped save the lives of countless others, which we will remember him and his story for by naming this bridge after him.”
“Thank you to my fellow Senate colleagues for your support in remembering an honorable member of the Farmington community for years to come.”
Update 21 March 2018
The selectmen voted 5-0 to concur with Amendment of House Bill 1278 to name the South Main Street Bridge in honor of Major John "Jackie" Lawrence. The amendment to the bill will be introduced and voted on 22 March 2018 at approximately 10:30 AM. This bill was postponed until approval of the amendment to the bill by selectmen was ratified. Anyone can attend the Senate session and Senator Jim Gray, Senate District 6, would like to acknowledge attendees so please contact him by email, [email protected] and cc me at [email protected]
Since this has already been to the House, a Committee of Conference will be called to reconcile differences of House and Senate versions. Usually, with these minor changes, the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee will review the changes and bring his decision to the full House for a vote. This is a fitting honor for a soldier with disregard for his safety gave his life for going to the aid of his men and defending our State and Country.
Yesterday, 15 March 2018 that the naming the South Main Street for Major Lawrence was a dead issue in the New Hampshire Senate. I attended the New Hampshire House session and was trying to reach Senator Jim Gray the entire morning. I finally reached him when the House broke for lunch. He informed me that the Senate had postponed the bill until the Senate heard from the Farmington Selectmen Board for their official approval. I talked to Jim Horgan. former selectman and fellow Farmington Representative about the develop[ment and he said he would try to attend the Selectmen meeting on Monday next and would encourage all interested parties to attend. The plan proposed included two black bronze plaques on each end of the new South Main Street Bridge. The South end of the bridge would identify the former site of the Hayes Sawmill which was more recently the site of Mooney's woodturning mill. The north end of the bridge would honor Major Lawrence. The wording on the plaques would be decided at a later date.
The bill must be passed by Thursday, 22 March or the bill dies.
Senate Bill to Name Farmington Bridge for Native Son
Bill to honor Major John W. "Jackie" Lawrence has been introduced in the
New Hampshire Senate by Senator James Gray
Senate Bill to Name Farmington Bridge for Native Son
Bill to honor Major John W. "Jackie" Lawrence has been introduced in the
New Hampshire Senate by Senator James Gray
Born 22 January 1938, Jack was raised in Farmington, NH, where he was graduated in 1956 from Farmington High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire for a year before entering the United States Military Academy with the Class of 1961, graduating in June of that year. He chose Artillery as his branch and he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Between those tours, he was assigned as an instructor in the ROTC Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
MAJOR JOHN WINSLOW LAWRENCE JR. WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT, NEW YORK IN THE CLASS OF 1961, WHO WAS SERVING WITH ADVISOR TEAM 91 MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND, VIETNAM WHEN HE MET HIS UNTIMELY DEATH ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1971.HE WAS A POSTHUMOUS RECIPIENT OF THE:
SILVER STAR NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
BRONZE STAR MEDAL VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
PURPLE HEART REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL
and was entitled to wear the
COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE & ARMY PARACHUTE WINGS
Bill to honor Major John Lawrence was submitted 8 March 2018 by Senator James Gray supported by Representative Jim Horgan and Representative Joe Pitre.
Bill to honor Major John Lawrence was submitted 8 March 2018 by Senator James Gray supported by Representative Jim Horgan and Representative Joe Pitre.
The recently completed bridge over the Cocheco River on South Main Street, Farmington will hopefully support a new plaque of honor for an outstanding graduate and favorite son of our great little town. Historically, the brigdge was known as the Hayes sawmill site
John Winslow "Jackie" Lawrence
Silver Star Citation (2nd Award)
POSTED ON 9/16/13 - BY A VIETNAM VET
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Air Defense Artillery) John Winslow Lawrence, Jr. (ASN: 0-93798), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving Advisory Team 91, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Major Lawrence distinguished himself on 16 September 1971, while serving as District Senior Advisor, Tri Tam District, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Major Lawrence, upon receiving news that the District S1 Officer and five other personnel had been ambushed and killed by an approximate company-size North Vietnamese Army Unit,, led a reaction force consisting of the 108th Popular Forces Platoon, the 46th Popular Forces Platoon, the District Intelligence Squad, one platoon from the 396th Regional Forces Company and a National Police Team. Upon reaching the location of the first ambush, the force led by Major Lawrence was engaged by the enemy and received severe mortar, rocket, automatic weapons and small arms fire. While leading the reaction force and directing their deployment in action, Major Lawrence killed at least two enemy soldiers before being killed himself. Following his valiant and courageous example, the surviving members of the reaction force, despite their decided tactical advantage, ultimately broke the enemy defenses and destroyed their positions. Major Lawrence's conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.
General Orders: Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4376 (1971)
Action Date: 16-Sep-71
Service: Army
Rank: Major
Company: Advisory Team 91
Division: Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
Silver Star Citation
POSTED ON 9/16/13 - BY A VIETNAM VET
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Defense Artillery) John Winslow Lawrence, Jr. (ASN: 0-93798), United States Army, for gallantry in action against a hostile force while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in action on 17 January 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, during Operation CEDAR FALLS, Captain Lawrence obtained information from a former Viet Cong of the presence of an enemy weapons cache and tunnel complex near Bong Cong village. Captain Lawrence unhesitatingly volunteered to lead the informant and an interpreter to investigate the suspected site. Captain Lawrence traveled several miles through dense, Viet Cong infested jungle exposing himself to enemy sniper fire while en route to his objective. Upon reaching the site, he was subjected to intense small arms fire from an enemy squad guarding the cache. Captain Lawrence, with complete disregard for his personal safety, braved the intense enemy fire as he placed accurate rifle fire on the Viet Cong and threw hand grenades into their position. Captain Lawrence's aggressive action completely disorganized the insurgents and forced them to withdraw. He then entered the tunnel and captured several weapons and numerous documents vital to his unit's operation. Captain Lawrence's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division and the United States Army.
Action Date: 17-Jan-67
Service: Army
Rank: Captain
Company: Headquarters and Headquarters Company
Regiment: 2d Brigade
Division: 1st Infantry Division
Is there a greater tragedy imaginable than that in our endeavor consciously to shape our future in accordance with high ideals we should in fact unwittingly produce the very opposite of what we have been striving for?
The contention that only the peculiar wickedness of the Germans has produced the Nazi system is likely to become the excuse for forcing on us the very institutions which have produced that wickedness.......more
This Month's Special
This Month's Special
The last eight years of President Obama have been disastrous for our economy and our quality of life in this country and filters on down to our town. The Glass Steagall Act repeal of 1999, the concept of free markets among banks with the derivatives market has caused the major failure of financial institutions that politicians took major amounts of taxpayer cash and bailed out these institutions.
There was also pressure by congress(Barney Frank in particular) and President Clinton to give home mortgages crafted by the banking industry to those that could ill afford to pay for them. Many of these loans were adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) which were linked to the discount interest rate set by the Federal Reserve Board. When these unaffordable mortgage payments were increased the foreclosure rate began to skyrocket. Many Farmington homeowners were swept into foreclosure at one of the highest foreclosure rates in the State of New Hampshire if not the country.
When Alan Greenspan was appointed by President Reagan in July 1987, Greenspan declared that there were 22,000 banks across the country and that was too many. He began to pressure the Federal Reserve Board to raise the discount rate from 5.5% to 7% in a few short months. In October of 1987 the stock market collapsed and the country's economy went into recession. Available cash to borrow was expensive and very hard to find willing lenders. The construction industry began to flounder(represents about 20% of our economy and usually the first to degrade) and the recession began to deepen. The reaction by the congress was to raise taxes on the "rich corporations" and the downward spiral of manufacturing jobs in the country were moving overseas. This country has one of the highest corporate taxes in the world and New Hampshire has one of the highest business profits tax in the country.
Our own Farmington National Bank was gobbled up by a megabank and lost its hometown feel. (I will work on finishing this article soon especially how it relates to Farmington and New Hampshire) Thank you for your readership!
House Republican Office
New Hampshire House of Representatives
State House Room 313, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-271-3665 Fax: 603-271-8566
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @nhhousegop
Facebook: facebook.com/nhhousegop
House Republican Office
New Hampshire House of Representatives
State House Room 313, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-271-3665 Fax: 603-271-8566
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @nhhousegop
Facebook: facebook.com/nhhousegop