[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 128 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           109th FIELD ARTILLERY HONORED ON 225TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 109th 
Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania National Guard on the occasion of 
its 225th anniversary.
  The 109th is one of the oldest organizations in continuous existence 
in the entire Armed Force. It was organized under Colonel Zebulon 
Butler on Oct. 17, 1775, just six months after the ``shot heard `round 
the world'' at Concord and Lexington sparked the American Revolution.
  Since then, the 109th has served the local community, the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation through many conflicts and 
emergencies.
  Although founded as an infantry unit, the regiment alternated between 
infantry and artillery throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Under 
various designations, the unit fought not only in the war for America's 
independence, but also in most of the nation's major wars.
  Mr. Speaker, the history of the 109th in battle is a long, brave and 
distinguished one. To give just one example, the unit fought in the 
Battle of the Bulge in World War II, striving valiantly to halt the 
German offensive in the Ardenesse. Once its guns were destroyed, the 
109th fought as infantry, often in vicious hand-to-hand combat. For its 
valor, the battalion was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, the 
highest decoration a unit can receive. It is authorized for wear by all 
current members of the battalion.
  The sacrifice of the members of the 109th extended to the Korean War 
era as well. On Sept. 11, 1950, at Coshocton, Ohio, 33 members of the 
109th Pennsylvania National Guard, who had been called into service in 
the Korean War, were killed in a train wreck and scores were wounded. 
During the remainder of the war, the battalion, along with the 28th 
Infantry Division, served in Europe as part of the defenses against the 
Soviet army.
  In 1977, the unit assumed its current designation as the 1st 
Battalion, 109th Field Artillery. It is a component of the 28th 
Infantry Division (Mechanized), Pennsylvania National Guard. With an 
authorized strength of more than 600 members and more than $50 million 
worth of equipment, the battalion is a crucial community asset for 
dealing with emergencies and natural disasters. It is also a key 
wartime resource, since the National Guard comprises more than half of 
the entire Army's field artillery force. The 109th also pumps more than 
$3 million into the local economy each year.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honored to have been asked to serve as 
honorary chairman of the community dinner that is being held Oct. 13 to 
honor the unit for its long and distinguished service to the Wyoming 
Valley and the nation. The chairperson for the dinner is Colonel Keith 
Martin, and the scheduled speakers are Medal of Honor winner Peter 
Lemon and reigning Miss America Heather French.
  As befits such a milestone anniversary, the dinner is just one of a 
series of events scheduled for the weekend, including an open house at 
the armory.
  Today, America stands tall as the lone remaining superpower, and 
freedom and democracy superpower, and freedom and democracy are 
thriving around the globe. To be sure, many people still do not breathe 
free, but the progress we have made is truly remarkable, and those 
National Guard citizen soldiers who have served in the defense of our 
nation and the cause of freedom helped to make this possible. In 
addition to honoring their service in wartime, it is especially 
important to honor their service in peacetime emergencies and 
disasters.
  Mr. Speaker, I join a grateful Wyoming Valley in honoring all those 
who have served in the 109th Field Artillery in its 225 years of 
existence, and I am pleased to call their service to the attention of 
the House of Representatives.

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