[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 47 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.47
                                         Agreed to March 8, 2001        

                      One Hundred Seventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
             the third day of January, two thousand and one


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas a C-23 Sherpa National Guard aircraft crashed in south-central 
  Georgia on March 3, 2001, killing all 21 National Guard members on 
  board;

Whereas of the 21 National Guard members on board, 18 were members of 
  the Virginia Air National Guard from the Hampton Roads area of 
  Virginia returning home following two weeks of training duty in 
  Florida and the other 3 were members of the Florida Army National 
  Guard who comprised the flight crew of the aircraft;

Whereas the Virginia National Guard members killed, all of whom were 
  members of the 203rd Red Horse Engineering Flight of Virginia Beach, 
  Virginia, were Master Sergeant James Beninati, 46, of Virginia Beach, 
  Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul J. Blancato, 38, of Norfolk, Virginia; 
  Technical Sergeant Ernest Blawas, 47, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 
  Staff Sergeant Andrew H. Bridges, 33, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Master 
  Sergeant Eric Bulman, 59, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant 
  Paul Cramer, 43, of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Michael 
  East, 40, of Parksley, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Ronald Elkin, 43, of 
  Norfolk, Virginia; Staff Sergeant James Ferguson, 41, of Newport 
  News, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Randy Johnson, 40, of Emporia, 
  Virginia; Senior Airman Mathrew Kidd, 23, of Hampton, Virginia; 
  Master Sergeant Michael Lane, 34, of Moyock, North Carolina; 
  Technical Sergeant Edwin Richardson, 48, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 
  Technical Sergeant Dean Shelby, 39, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 
  Staff Sergeant John Sincavage, 27, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Staff 
  Sergeant Gregory Skurupey, 34, of Gloucester, Virginia; Staff 
  Sergeant Richard Summerell, 51, of Franklin, Virginia; and Major 
  Frederick Watkins, III, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;

Whereas the Florida National Guard members killed, all of whom were 
  members of Detachment 1, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation, of Lakeland, 
  Florida, were Chief Warrant Officer John Duce, 49, of Orange Park, 
  Florida; Chief Warrant Officer Eric Larson, 34, of Land-O-Lakes, 
  Florida; and Staff Sergeant Robert Ward, 35, of Lakeland, Florida;

Whereas these members of the National Guard were performing their duty 
  in furtherance of the national security interests of the United 
  States;

Whereas the members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, 
  are routinely called upon to perform duties that place their lives at 
  risk; and

Whereas the members of the National Guard who lost their lives as a 
  result of the aircraft crash on March 3, 2001, died in the honorable 
  service to the Nation and exemplified all that is best in the 
  American people: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
        (1) honors the 18 members of the Virginia Air National Guard 
    and 3 members of the Florida Army National Guard who were killed on 
    March 3, 2001, in the crash of a C-23 Sherpa National Guard 
    aircraft in south-central Georgia; and
        (2) sends heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and 
    loved ones.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.