[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 102--RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING 
                     OF THE USS THRESHER (SSN 593)

  Mr. SUNUNU (for himself, Mr. Gregg, Ms. Snowe, and Ms. Collins) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 102

       Whereas the USS Thresher was first launched at Portsmouth 
     Naval Shipyard on July 9, 1960;
       Whereas the USS Thresher departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 
     for her final voyage on April 9, 1963, with a crew of 16 
     officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians;
       Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the 
     naval submarine service, military and civilian, in the 
     protection of the Nation;
       Whereas at approximately 7:47 a.m. on April 10, 1963, while 
     in communication with the surface ship USS Skylark, and 
     approximately 300 miles off the coast of New England, the USS 
     Thresher began her final descent;
       Whereas the USS Thresher was declared lost with all hands 
     on April 10, 1963;
       Whereas from the loss of the USS Thresher, there arose the 
     SUBSAFE program, which has kept United States' submariners 
     safe at sea ever since as the strongest, safest submarine 
     force in history;
       Whereas from the loss of the USS Thresher, there arose in 
     our Nation's universities the ocean engineering curricula 
     that enables the United States' preeminence in submarine 
     warfare; and
       Whereas the crew of the USS Thresher demonstrated the 
     ``last full measure of devotion'' in service to this Nation, 
     and this devotion characterizes the sacrifices of all 
     submariners, past and present: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 40th Anniversary of the sinking of the 
     USS Thresher;
       (2) remembers with profound sorrow the loss of the USS 
     Thresher and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on 
     April 10, 1963; and
       (3) expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on 
     ``eternal patrol'', who are forever bound together by their 
     dedicated and honorable service to the United States of 
     America.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
     resolution to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the 
     Commanding Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to be 
     accepted on behalf of the families and shipmates of the crew 
     of the USS Thresher.

                          ____________________