On September 22nd, 1975, Vietnam Veteran Oliver Sipple stopped Sarah Jane Moore from assassinating President Ford. Sipple was immediately labled as a hero, but because he was outed in the press as a gay man living in San Francisco, his heroism went unrewarded. A polite thank you note from President Ford arrived only after Harvey Milk noted the absence of any thanks at all.
Sipple died broken and alone in 1989. He wished to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, but this was denied. It is long past time this hero was appropriately recognized.
We The People humbly petition the White House to reinter the remains of Oliver Sipple at Arlington National Cemetery, and to posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.