[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 395 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 395
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Colorado
National Guard.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 22, 2010
Mr. Udall of Colorado (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
January 25, 2010
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Colorado
National Guard.
Whereas, on January 23, 1860, the history of the Colorado National Guard began
when the first General Assembly of the Jefferson Territory authorized
the formation of 2 independent militia companies, the Jefferson Rangers
and the Denver Guards, both of which were disbanded after the Colorado
Volunteers were established as the official Colorado Territorial
Militia;
Whereas after Colorado became a State in 1876, the Colorado State Militia was
activated on dozens of occasions to protect public rights, safety, and
property;
Whereas during World War I, nearly all units of the Colorado National Guard were
called into service, serving as replacements on the front lines as well
as carrying out crucial artillery support roles in most of the major
campaigns near the end of the war;
Whereas during World War II, Colorado National Guard units served in both the
European and Pacific theaters, providing crucial indirect fire support
throughout the Pacific, significantly contributing to the invasion of
Italy and southern France, and partaking in the liberation of the Dachau
concentration camp in April 1945;
Whereas a year prior to the establishment of the United States Air Force in
September 1947, the 120th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) was
federally recognized and redesignated as the 120th Fighter Squadron
(Single-Engine), thus becoming the first federally recognized unit of
the Air National Guard;
Whereas the Colorado National Guard was called into Federal service in 1950
during the Korean War and in 1961 during the Berlin Crisis;
Whereas in 1968, the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Colorado Air
National Guard became one of the first Air National Guard units to be
mobilized and the first of 4 fighter units to be deployed for combat
operations in the Vietnam War;
Whereas in 1990 and 1991, the Colorado National Guard was called into Federal
service to support Operation Desert Shield/Storm in the Persian Gulf and
enforce the United Nations-mandated no-fly zone over Iraq during
Operations Northern and Southern Watch;
Whereas the Colorado National Guard was called into Federal service in 1994 to
help provide stability in Haiti and in 1999 as part of Operation Joint
Forge in the Balkans;
Whereas in recent years, the Colorado National Guard has supported various anti-
drug and search-and-rescue missions and assisted the citizens of
Colorado during numerous natural disasters and State emergencies;
Whereas hours after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on
September 11, 2001, the Colorado National Guard was activated to bolster
airport security at 14 major airports across the State and the Pueblo
Chemical Depot, with Colorado Guardsmen, as part of Operation Noble
Eagle, launching the first defensive aircraft over the city of Denver
within minutes of the terrorist attacks and initiating the Air
Sovereignty Alert mission, which continues today with airmen and
aircraft on alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to protect our Nation
from aerial threats;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, more than 6,500 Colorado National Guard
members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, with more than 550 Colorado National
Guard members currently deployed in support of both missions and another
160 members preparing for mobilization;
Whereas the 3rd Battalion of the 157th Field Artillery Regiment, which traces
its lineage back to the Civil War, is currently deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom and is the largest Colorado Army National Guard
unit to deploy since World War II;
Whereas in 1985, the Colorado National Guard established the High-Altitude Army
Aviation Training Site (HAATS) to instruct rotary wing aviators on how
to better operate in hostile, high-altitude, and power-limited
environments;
Whereas HAATS is the only United States military school teaching such
specialized techniques and has provided critical training to helicopter
aviators in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas in 1993, the Colorado National Guard was among the first to form a
partnership under the auspices of the State Partnership Program with the
Republic of Slovenia, and in 2002, formed a second partnership with the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
Whereas the more than 3,700 citizen soldiers of the Colorado Army National Guard
are based in 20 communities across Colorado, and the more than 1,500
citizen airmen of the Colorado Air National Guard are based at Buckley
Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, as well as in Greeley and Colorado
Springs, Colorado;
Whereas the citizen soldiers and airmen of the Colorado National Guard have
served with courage and selflessness and have earned the respect and
gratitude of Coloradans and all Americans; and
Whereas the Colorado National Guard continues to build on its heritage as a
ready, reliable, and relevant community-based force that is always ready
and always there, whether to protect our homeland against attacks, to
support civil authorities, or to defend freedom overseas: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the founding of the
Colorado National Guard and its exemplary service to the State
of Colorado and the Nation;
(2) thanks the members of the Colorado National Guard and
their families for their service and their sacrifice on behalf
of the State of Colorado and the Nation;
(3) pledges its continued support in providing the Colorado
National Guard with the resources necessary to ensure its
readiness to perform State and Federal missions;
(4) expresses condolences to the families of those members
of the Colorado National Guard who made the ultimate sacrifice
and gave their lives while serving in the Colorado National
Guard; and
(5) honors the dedication of the members of the Colorado
National Guard who play a central role in protecting the United
States and the freedoms and liberties of its citizens.
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