IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 916 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 18, 2009 Mr. Rodriguez (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Gonzalez, and Mr. Cuellar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the significant contributions of the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment to the veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Whereas in 1988, due to decreasing manpower, the Department of Defense necessarily limited its military burial services to veterans; Whereas the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment was chartered in 1990 to provide military funeral honors to deceased veterans when the Department of Defense was unable to do so; Whereas the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment provides the traditional 3-volley-salute of gunfire and the playing of Taps at veterans’ funerals at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on a daily basis; Whereas the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment has provided military burial honors for over 25,000 deceased veterans since 1990; Whereas the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment averages 80 volunteers organized into 5 squads to cover each day of the work week; and Whereas the average age of the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment volunteers is 75 years old and the Detachment includes veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes the significant contributions of the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment to the veterans and families of the United States Armed Forces; (2)honors the selfless service of veterans helping veterans; (3)supports the traditions of military burial honors to the Nation’s veterans; and (4)encourages veterans across the Nation to emulate the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment by helping to provide military burial honors to fellow veterans across the United States.