UPDATE: The Washington state Senate honored U.S. Army Capt. William Swenson today.

"Captain Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry - at the risk of his life - above and beyond the call of duty. The danger Captain Swenson faced that day was not some general risk of injury...it was the immediate threat of imminent death," O'Ban said, according to a news release. "No one ordered him to repeatedly place himself at the threshold of death to save his brethren. No one would have judged him disloyal for not going in a second, third or fourth time into mortal peril."

A photo from the ceremony is posted below, as well as information on the ceremony, which we posted yesterday.

The Sen. Steve O'Ban camp just sent us this awesomeness:

Tomorrow members of the state Senate will adopt a resolution - Senate Resolution 8686 - sponsored by Sen. Steve O'Ban, R-University Place, recognizing the bravery and selflessness of U.S. Army Capt. William Swenson, who earned the Medal of Honor last year for his heroic actions in Afghanistan.

On Sept. 8, 2009, Swenson and others were engaged by anti-Afghan forces in the Ganjgal Valley within 100 meters of Ganjgal Village, forcing Swenson to simultaneously return fire while directing troops where to go to provide cover fire for soldiers pinned down by the insurgents' initial volley. As the anti-Afghan forces began calling for Swenson and his group to surrender, he fought back while providing first aid to his wounded partner. It was an act of resistance that inspired the troops pinned nearby to rally, and their subsequent response disrupted the enemy attack and pushed them back beyond hand-grenade range.

Captain Swenson helped carry his wounded partner, with rocket-propelled grenades striking close by, across 200 meters of terraced open ground where they successfully loaded him into a waiting MedEvac helicopter. Swenson then returned to the firefight to rescue more of his fallen comrades.

The general public is to attend the reading and adoption of Senate Resolution 8686, which will begin around 9 a.m. in the Senate chamber. O'Ban's son, Thomas, who serves in the Army and is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will sing the national anthem to begin the day's activities.

>>> Capt. William Swenson, Medal of Honor recipient and Seattle resident, is honored by members of the Washington State Senate Feb. 18. Photo courtesy of Washington State Legislative Support Services