[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 488 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 488

   Honoring Americans who served as volunteers for the United States 
            Office of Civilian Defense during World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 7, 2011

   Mr. Bishop of New York (for himself and Mr. Hanna) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Honoring Americans who served as volunteers for the United States 
            Office of Civilian Defense during World War II.

Whereas the spread of warfare across Europe and Asia led to the establishment on 
        May 20, 1941, of the United States Office of Civilian Defense by 
        Executive Order 8757 of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to ``assure 
        effective coordination of Federal relations with State and local 
        governments engaged in defense activities, to provide for necessary 
        cooperation with States and local governments in respect to measures for 
        adequate protection of the civilian population in emergency periods, to 
        facilitate constructive civilian participation in the defense program, 
        and to sustain national morale'';
Whereas the December 7, 1941, attack by the Empire of Japan on Pearl Harbor, 
        Hawaii, precipitated the entry of the United States into the worldwide 
        conflict and signaled a new era of warfare that demanded new efforts to 
        protect the people of the United States from airborne assault by an 
        overseas enemy;
Whereas in response to this new threat, the United States Office of Civilian 
        Defense mobilized millions of volunteers to participate in efforts to 
        enhance the preparedness of the United States in case of attack, 
        including fire protection, communication and logistics, construction of 
        bomb shelters, and air raid blackout drills;
Whereas thousands of Americans unable to serve in the United States Armed Forces 
        volunteered their service as Air Raid Wardens in communities across the 
        United States during World War II, contributing to America's defense 
        against potential enemy assault and the ultimate victory of the Allied 
        nations;
Whereas a training manual distributed to Air Raid Wardens during World War II 
        noted that ``In the system of civilian defense, the Air Raid Warden 
        occupies the key position. He is the field officer under whose 
        supervision the efforts of the civilian population are directed in the 
        tremendous task of effective defense. Through the Air Raid Wardens, 
        civilian activity is coordinated with that of the police and fire 
        departments and other vital services.'';
Whereas training manuals distributed to Air Raid Wardens included ``I am an Air 
        Raid Warden'', by Frank W. Atherton, Chief Air Raid Warden, 1st 
        District, United States Citizens' Defense Corps of Michigan, which read, 
        in part that ``I am an Air Raid Warden. My country, my state and my 
        community have given me many pleasant and fruitful years and now in time 
        of trouble I feel that it is my duty to do my part in the work assigned 
        to me in helping to reduce to a minimum any harm that may come from 
        without or within.''; and
Whereas Tony Pastor and His Orchestra released a song in 1942, titled ``Obey 
        Your Air Raid Warden'', which was widely distributed as a public service 
        announcement and contained the following lyrics: ``One, be calm. Two, 
        get under shelter. Three, don't run. Obey your air-raid warden. Four, 
        stay home. Five, keep off the highway. Six, don't phone. Obey your air-
        raid warden. There are rules that you should know, What to do and where 
        to go, When you hear the sirens blow, Stop, look, and listen. Seven, 
        don't smoke. Eight, help all the kiddies. Most of all, obey your air-
        raid warden. Stop, look, and listen. Dim the lights, Wait for 
        information, Most of all, obey your air-raid warden. Stop the panic, 
        Don't get in a huff, Our aim today is to call their bluff. Follow these 
        rules and that is enough. Obey your air-raid warden.'': Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the service of Air Raid Wardens and all other 
        Americans who volunteered for service for the United States 
        Office of Civilian Defense during World War II;
            (2) recognizes the important contributions of Air Raid 
        Wardens and other volunteers of the United States Office of 
        Civilian Defense to public safety, morale, and victory; and
            (3) encourages surviving Air Raid Wardens and other 
        volunteers of the United States Office of Civilian Defense 
        during the World War II to record and permanently preserve 
        stories of their service for future generations.
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