[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 102 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 102

Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S.S. Thresher 
                               (SSN 593).


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 1, 2003

    Mr. Sununu (for himself, Mr. Gregg, Ms. Snowe, and Ms. Collins) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the U.S.S. Thresher 
                               (SSN 593).

Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was first launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on 
        July 9, 1960;
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for her final 
        voyage on April 9, 1963, with a crew of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 
        civilians;
Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the naval submarine service, 
        military and civilian, in the protection of the Nation;
Whereas at approximately 7:47 a.m. on April 10, 1963, while in communication 
        with the surface ship U.S.S. Skylark, and approximately 300 miles off 
        the coast of New England, the U.S.S. Thresher began her final descent;
Whereas the U.S.S. Thresher was declared lost with all hands on April 10, 1963;
Whereas from the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher, there arose the SUBSAFE program, 
        which has kept United States' submariners safe at sea ever since as the 
        strongest, safest submarine force in history;
Whereas from the loss of the U.S.S. Thresher, there arose in our Nation's 
        universities the ocean engineering curricula that enables the United 
        States' preeminence in submarine warfare; and
Whereas the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher demonstrated the ``last full measure of 
        devotion'' in service to this Nation, and this devotion characterizes 
        the sacrifices of all submariners, past and present: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the 40th Anniversary of the sinking of the 
        U.S.S. Thresher;
            (2) remembers with profound sorrow the loss of the U.S.S. 
        Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on April 
        10, 1963; and
            (3) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on 
        ``eternal patrol'', who are forever bound together by their 
        dedicated and honorable service to the United States of 
        America.

SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTION.

    The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
resolution to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the Commanding 
Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to be accepted on behalf of 
the families and shipmates of the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher.
                                 <all>