[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 47 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 47


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 2001

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the 21 members of the National Guard who were killed in the 
 crash of a National Guard aircraft on March 3, 2001, in south-central 
                                Georgia.

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 7, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.