State lawmakers plan to honor Ohio members of the military who have died recently in U.S. combat operations.
The General Assembly holds a joint legislative session Thursday to posthumously award the state's Military Medal of Distinction to service members ahead of the Memorial Day holiday.
The medal was created by law in 2009 to pay tribute to Ohioans who lost their lives fighting in conflicts. Both chambers of the state Legislature are required to meet at least once a year to recognize medal recipients killed in the line of duty.
Ohioans are eligible for the medal if they were killed after Sept. 10, 2001, while fighting against U.S. enemies, serving in combat zones or engaging in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.