[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2013-S2014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22--HONORING THE 21 MEMBERS OF THE 
    NATIONAL GUARD WHO WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH OF A NATIONAL GUARD 
          AIRCRAFT ON MARCH 3, 2001, IN SOUTH-CENTRAL GEORGIA

  Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Nelson of 
Florida) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 22

       Whereas a C-23 Sherpa National Guard aircraft crashed in 
     south-central Georgia on March 3, 2001, killing all 21 
     National Guard members on board;
       Whereas of the 21 National Guard members on board, 18 were 
     members of the Virginia Air National Guard from the Hampton 
     Roads area of Virginia returning home following two weeks of 
     training duty in Florida and the other 3 were members of the 
     Florida Army National Guard who comprised the flight crew of 
     the aircraft;
       Whereas the Virginia National Guard members killed, all of 
     whom were members of the 203rd Red Horse Engineering Flight 
     of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were Master Sergeant James 
     Beninati, 46, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant 
     Paul J. Blancato, 38, of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical 
     Sergeant Ernest Blawas, 47, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; 
     Staff Sergeant Andrew H. Bridges, 33, of Chesapeake, 
     Virginia; Master Sergeant Eric Bulman, 59, of Virginia Beach, 
     Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul Cramer, 43, of Norfolk, 
     Virginia; Technical Sergeant Michael East, 40, of Parksley, 
     Virginia; Staff Sergeant Ronald Elkin, 43, of Norfolk, 
     Virginia; Staff Sergeant James Ferguson, 41, of Newport News, 
     Virginia; Staff Sergeant Randy Johnson, 40, of Emporia, 
     Virginia; Senior Airman Mathrew Kidd, 23, of Hampton, 
     Virginia; Master Sergeant Michael Lane, 34, of Moyock, North 
     Carolina; Technical Sergeant Edwin Richardson, 48, of 
     Virginia Beach, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Dean Shelby, 39, 
     of

[[Page S2014]]

     Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant John Sincavage, 27, 
     of Chesapeake, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Gregory Skurupey, 34, 
     of Gloucester, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Richard Summerell, 
     51, of Franklin, Virginia; and Major Frederick Watkins, III, 
     35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;
       Whereas the Florida National Guard members killed, all of 
     whom were members of Detachment 1, 1st Battalion, 171st 
     Aviation, of Lakeland, Florida, were Chief Warrant Officer 
     John Duce, 49, of Orange Park, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer 
     Eric Larson, 34, of Land-O-Lakes, Florida; and Staff Sergeant 
     Robert Ward, 35, of Lakeland, Florida;
       Whereas these members of the National Guard were performing 
     their duty in furtherance of the national security interests 
     of the United States;
       Whereas the members of the Armed Forces, including the 
     National Guard, are routinely called upon to perform duties 
     that place their lives at risk; and
       Whereas the members of the National Guard who lost their 
     lives as a result of the aircraft crash on March 3, 2001, 
     died in the honorable service to the Nation and exemplified 
     all that is best in the American people: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) honors the 18 members of the Virginia Air National 
     Guard and 3 members of the Florida Army National Guard who 
     were killed on March 3, 2001, in the crash of a C-23 Sherpa 
     National Guard aircraft in south-central Georgia; and
       (2) sends heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, 
     and loved ones.

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