New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey AJR103: John Basilone Day-designates September 22
Status: Passed one chamber, September 28, 2026
Designates September 22 as "John Basilone Day."
What the bill says
A Joint Resolution designating September 22 of each year as John Basilone Day..
From the introduced text, January 13, 2026:
A Joint Resolution designating September 22 of each year as John Basilone Day. Whereas, John Basilone was raised in Raritan, New Jersey when he left to enlist in the United States Army at age 17; and Whereas, Basilone was honorably discharged from the army and began work as a truck driver before enlisting with the United States Marine Corps in 1940, a year before the United States entered World War II; and Whereas, At the Battle of Guadalcanal, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone commanded two heavy machine gun sections charged with defending Henderson Field, a key Allied airstrip on the Solomon Islands; and Whereas, With one machine gun post destroyed by Japanese forces, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone raced 200 yards with a 90 pound machine gun in hand to secure a faltering line; and Whereas, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone also ran through enemy gunfire and between nearby machine gun posts repairing weapons and resupplying fellow Marines with ammunition; and Whereas, Successfully defending Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal was a turning point for Allied forces as it established their air superiority in the region and provided a significant advantage in future engagements; and Whereas, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Henderson Field; and Whereas, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone was then sent back to the United States …
Sponsors
- Erik Peterson (R, 23) · primary sponsor
- John DiMaio (R, 23) · primary sponsor
- Dawn Fantasia (R, 24)
- Michael Inganamort (R, 24)
- Brian E. Rumpf (R, 9)
- Mitchelle Drulis (D, 16)
- Victoria A. Flynn (R, 13)
- Craig J. Coughlin (D, 19)
- Yvonne Lopez (D, 19)
Latest actions
- : R/S REF SMV
- : PA (74-0-0)
- : REP 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF AMV
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - John Basilone Day-designates September 22 (September 24, 2026): 74 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee: Reported favorably (September 14, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COMMEMORATIONS
Common questions
- What is AJR103?
- AJR103 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): John Basilone Day-designates September 22.
- What does AJR103 do?
- In its own words: A Joint Resolution designating September 22 of each year as John Basilone Day..
- What is the status of AJR103?
- Passed one chamber as of September 28, 2026. Latest action: R/S REF SMV (September 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored AJR103?
- Erik Peterson (R, 23), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for AJR103?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AJR103
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.