[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 44--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
            REGARDING NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

  Mr. FITZGERALD (for himself, and Mr. Smith of New Hampshire) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 44

       Whereas on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy and 
     Air Force attacked units of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;
       Whereas 2,403 members of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor;
       Whereas there are more than 12,000 members of the Pearl 
     Harbor Survivors Association;
       Whereas the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor 
     will be December 7, 2001;
       Whereas on August 23, 1994, Public Law 103-308 was enacted, 
     designating December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor 
     Remembrance Day; and
       Whereas Public Law 103-308, reenacted as section 129 of 
     title 36, United States Code, requests the President to issue 
     each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United 
     States to observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities, and all departments, 
     agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government, 
     and interested organizations, groups, and individuals, to fly 
     the flag of the United States at half-staff each December 7 
     in honor of the individuals who died as a result of their 
     service at Pearl Harbor: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress, on the occasion of the 60th 
     anniversary of the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, 
     Hawaii, pays tribute to--
       (1) the United States citizens who died in the attack; and
       (2) the members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

  Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam President, I rise today, with my colleague 
Senator Smith of New Hampshire, to submit a concurrent resolution 
honoring the American servicemen who were attacked by the Japanese 
Imperial Forces at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Senator Smith 
submitted a parallel resolution last year but has allowed me to take 
the lead on this matter this year in light of the special significance 
of Pearl Harbor remembrance day to my family.
  My uncle, Navy Ensign Edward Webb Gosselin, was among the 1,102 
American seamen killed aboard the battleship U.S.S. Arizona on December 
7, 1941.
  Edward had enlisted in the Navy in September of 1940 and reported to 
his first duty station, the Arizona, in May of 1941. He was 24 years 
old when he died. Edward had just graduated from Yale University and 
was, in fact, the first Yale graduate to die in World War II.
  The Navy later named a destroyer escort after Edward, and it was 
named the U.S.S. Gosselin.
  Fittingly, after participating in the invasion of Okinawa, the 
Gosselin had the honor of being the first American warship to enter 
Japanese waters upon that nation's surrender. The Gosselin also was the 
first ship to bring home American prisoners of war held in Japan. Many 
years later, Edward's father, my grandfather, recounted the tremendous 
pride he felt upon hearing the ships's name mentioned during radio 
broadcasts of the surrender.
  The resolution that Senator Smith and I introduce today reminds 
federal departments and agencies to fly the United States flag at half/
mast on December 7, and pays tribute to the United States citizens who 
died in the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, and to the members of the 
Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. I conclude by asking all of my 
colleagues to join me this Memorial Day in remembering and honoring the 
2,403 American sailors and soldiers who were killed at Pearl Harbor, 
and all other Americans in uniform who have died serving their country.

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