The twenty-third day of October in each and every year shall be set aside as a day dedicated to the memory of the “Rhode Island Nine Beirut Marines” who lost their lives in the 1983 terrorist bombing attack on a marine compound in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed two hundred forty-one (241) American service personnel. The day shall be observed by the people of this state with appropriate exercises in public places and the governor may issue an annual proclamation honoring the memory of the nine marines from Rhode Island who made the ultimate sacrifice.