[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 229 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 229

 Honoring the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force 
Base, Delaware, for its service in providing dignified transfer of our 
        Nation's fallen heroes to their families and loved ones.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2011

  Mr. Jones (for himself and Mr. Butterfield) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force 
Base, Delaware, for its service in providing dignified transfer of our 
        Nation's fallen heroes to their families and loved ones.

Whereas the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (hereinafter referred to as 
        ``AFMAO'') was activated December 15, 2008, as a named activity of the 
        Directorate of Services, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters United 
        States Air Force;
Whereas it is the AFMAO's mission and privilege to fulfill the Nation's sacred 
        commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to fallen members of 
        the Armed Forces and care, service and support to their families;
Whereas a solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted upon arrival at 
        Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle 
        to honor those who have given their lives in the service of the country;
Whereas the AFMAO has a total force staff consisting of active duty Soldiers, 
        Sailors, Airmen, and Marines as well as members of the reserve 
        components of the Armed Forces and civilians;
Whereas the staff also consists of representatives from Federal agencies, 
        including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces 
        Medical Examiner, who are responsible for the complete processing of 
        remains;
Whereas the AFMAO combines the missions of both the Air Force Mortuary Affairs 
        and the Dover Port Mortuary at the Charles C. Carson Center;
Whereas the Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, began operations in 
        1955;
Whereas the Port Mortuary is responsible for the return of all Department of 
        Defense personnel and dependents from overseas contingency operations 
        and other overseas deaths;
Whereas about 80 military, civilian, and contractor personnel work in the Port 
        Mortuary Division;
Whereas the Port Mortuary has support from 55 deployed members of the active and 
        reserve components of the Armed Forces, including from the Air Force, 
        Army, Marines, and Navy, 6 permanent party licensed morticians, the 
        436th Airlift Wing, and during operations, support from the Armed Forces 
        Institute of Pathology Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiners, 
        including pathologists, anthropologists, and forensic photographers;
Whereas support is also obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
        licensed dental technicians, and investigators from the Army Criminal 
        Investigation Division, the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, 
        and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service;
Whereas operations at the AFMAO are conducted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and
Whereas since the Dover Port Mortuary opened in 1955, the professional staff at 
        Dover have reunited more than 60,000 fallen heroes with their families 
        and loved ones with the utmost dignity, honor, and respect: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover 
        Air Force Base, Delaware, for its service in providing 
        dignified transfer of our Nation's fallen heroes to their 
        families and loved ones;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to remember 
        the actions of the dedicated military and civilian personnel 
        who conduct the operations at Air Force Mortuary Affairs 
        Operations;
            (3) calls upon the people of the United States to remember 
        the fallen heroes who have given their lives for freedom in 
        Iraq, Afghanistan, and all previous conflicts; and
            (4) calls upon Members of Congress to attend a dignified 
        transfer at Dover Air Force Base to honor the Nation's fallen 
        heroes.
                                 <all>