Projo Politics Blog

Most state employees who quit don’t have Senate resolutions read in their honor.

But Carl Parmenter is not like most state employees, according to the host of senators who said goodbye to the 22-year-old Senate staffer last Wednesday.

Parmenter, who ran the sound system on the Senate floor for the past two years as a legislative aide, left for Fort Benning, Ga., last Thursday. He will serve in the Army on active duty for the next three years, according to Senate Resolution 1025.

“He leaves not only a job in which he excels, but also a family that loves and cherishes him,” read the Senate clerk, as Carl’s father, sister and grandmother looked on from the bench behind Sen. John Tassoni, D-Smithfield. His grandmother was weeping.

The clerk continued: “Resolved, that this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby honors and thanks Carl Parmenter as he leaves the Ocean State to begin his tour of duty in the United States Army. We thank him for his outstanding service to this Senate and wish him Godspeed and a safe return.”

Lawmakers took turns praising the dark-haired young man, who sat quietly beside his family.

“There’s not many people I’d say I’d go in a foxhole with,” Tassoni said. “Make sure you keep your head down, Carl.”

“He always does with a smile and without a complaint,” Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed said.

“In many ways he grew into a man while he was here,” Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano said. “A new stage of his public service is about to begin.”

Parmenter, who has a young daughter, according to the resolution, has committed to a total of eight years in the military.

The Senate gave him a standing ovation before moving on to the day’s calendar.

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