Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Leo J. Ryan

Another year has rolled around since my last note of rememberance of a man who I called my friend. Had he lived he would have been 80 years old today . I remember the night I got a call from a friend in Pennsylavnia that Leo had been murdered.

I knew his view of destructive cults and mainly $cientology as his favorite nephew was involved so I felt he would address that subject next. What a tragic loss.

So once again I renew my promise that I made to him many years ago.

Rest in Peace dear friend

Ida

Leo J. Ryan

b. Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska, 5 May 1925
d. Jonestown, Guyana, 18 November 1978

Friday, 18 November 1983

An Act

To honor Congressman Leo J. Ryan and to award a special congressional gold medal to the family of the late Honorable Leo J. Ryan.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the President of the United States is authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design to the family of the late Honorable Leo J. Ryan in recognition of his distinguished service as a Member of Congress and the fact of his untimely death by assassination while performing his responsibilities as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. For such purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to cause to be struck a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. There is authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $25,000 after October 1, 1983, to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may cause duplicates in bronze of such medal to be coined and sold under such regulations as he may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, material, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and the gold medal. The appropriation made to carry out subsection (a) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of such sales.

(c) The medals provided for in this section are national medals for the purpose of section 5111 of title 31, United States Code.

97 Stat. 992

Statement on Signing the Bill Authorizing a Congressional Gold Medal Honoring the Late Representative Leo J. Ryan

November 18, 1983: I am pleased today to affix my signature to the bill H.R. 3348, honoring the late Congressman Leo J. Ryan by authorizing a special Congressional Gold Medal of appropriate design to be struck and presented to his family.

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the day Leo Ryan was tragically struck down by an assassin's bullet on a faraway airport runway in Guyana. As his colleagues have noted in their tribute to him, it was typical of Leo Ryan's concern for his constituents that he would investigate personally the rumors of mistreatment in Jonestown that reportedly affected so many from his district.

Leo Ryan is the 88th recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal and only the 4th Member of Congress to receive this high honor from his colleagues.

President Ronald Reagan

Note: As enacted, H.R. 3348 is Public Law 98 - 159, approved November 18.

The rest of the story is here: http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/LeoJRyan.htm

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