[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 235 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 235
Designating August 16, 2009, as ``National Airborne Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 3, 2009
Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Reed, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Byrd,
Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Begich, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Burr, Mr. Crapo,
Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Inouye, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Cochran, Mr.
Conrad, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Burris, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Bingaman, Mr.
Cardin, Mr. Reid, Mr. Thune, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, Mr. Merkley, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Bond, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Corker) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating August 16, 2009, as ``National Airborne Day''.
Whereas the airborne forces of the Armed Forces have a long and honorable
history as units of adventuresome, hardy, and fierce warriors who, for
the national security of the United States and the defense of freedom
and peace, project the effective ground combat power of the United
States by Air Force air transport to the far reaches of the battle area
and, indeed, to the far corners of the world;
Whereas August 16 marks the anniversary of the first official Army parachute
jump on August 16, 1940, an event that validated the innovative concept
of inserting United States ground combat forces behind a battle line by
means of a parachute;
Whereas the United States experiment with airborne infantry attack began on June
25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized by
the Department of War, and was launched when 48 volunteers began
training in July 1940;
Whereas the success of the Army Parachute Test Platoon in the days immediately
before the entry of the United States into World War II led to the
formation of a formidable force of airborne units that have served with
distinction and have had repeated success in armed hostilities;
Whereas among those airborne units are the former 11th, 13th, and 17th Airborne
Divisions, the venerable 82nd Airborne Division, the versatile 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the airborne regiments and
battalions (some as components of those divisions, some as separate
units) that achieved distinction as the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, the
173rd Airborne Brigade, the 187th Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, the
503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd Parachute Infantry
Regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, the 509th, 551st, and
555th Parachute Infantry Battalions, the 325th and 327th Glider
Infantry, and the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne forces during World War II prompted the
evolution of those forces into a diversified force of parachute and air-
assault units that, over the years, have fought in Korea, Vietnam,
Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf region, and Somalia, and have engaged
in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, the
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo;
Whereas the modern-day airborne force that has evolved from those World War II
beginnings is an agile, powerful force that, in large part, is composed
of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), and the 75th Ranger Regiment;
Whereas the modern-day airborne force also includes other elite forces composed
entirely of airborne trained and qualified special operations warriors,
including Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Reconnaissance units, Navy
SEALs, and Air Force combat control teams, each of which is part of the
United States Special Operations Command;
Whereas in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on
September 11, 2001, the 75th Ranger Regiment, special forces units, and
units of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), together with other units of the Armed Forces, have been
prosecuting the war against terrorism by carrying out combat operations
in Afghanistan, training operations in the Philippines, and other
operations elsewhere;
Whereas in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on
September 11, 2001, airborne units played a pivotal role in the war in
Afghanistan, including the unflinching pursuit of the enemies of the
United States during the battles of Mazar-i Sharif, Kabul, Qala-i-Jangi,
Tora Bora, and Operation Anaconda;
Whereas United States paratroopers, which include the 82d Airborne Division,
75th Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Combat team, and elements of the 4th Brigade 25th Infantry Division,
have demonstrated bravery and honor in an effort to pursue the enemies
of the United States, to stabilize Afghanistan, and to strive for calm
in a troubled region;
Whereas in the aftermath of the announcement of Operation Iraqi Freedom by
President George W. Bush in March 2003, the 75th Ranger Regiment,
special forces units, and units of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 4th
Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division, together
with other units of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war
against terrorism, carrying out combat operations, conducting civil
affairs missions, and assisting in establishing democracy in Iraq;
Whereas the airborne forces are, and will continue to be, at the ready and the
forefront until the Global War on Terrorism is concluded;
Whereas of the members and former members of the United States airborne forces,
all have achieved distinction by earning the right to wear the ``Silver
Wings of Courage'' of the United States airborne forces, thousands have
achieved the distinction of making combat jumps, 69 have earned the
Medal of Honor, and hundreds have earned the Distinguished-Service
Cross, Silver Star, or other decorations and awards for displays of such
traits as heroism, gallantry, intrepidity, and valor;
Whereas the members and former members of the United States airborne forces are
all members of a proud and honorable fraternity of the profession of
arms that is made exclusive by those distinctions which, together with
their special skills and achievements, distinguish them as intrepid
combat parachutists, special operation forces, and, in former days,
glider troops;
Whereas the history and achievements of the members and former members of the
airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces warrant special
expressions of the gratitude of the people of the United States; and
Whereas, since the airborne community celebrates August 16 as the anniversary of
the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16
would be an appropriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates August 16, 2009, as ``National Airborne
Day''; and
(2) calls on the people of the United States to observe
National Airborne Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies,
and activities.
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