[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S3833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 204--HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SELFRIDGE AIR 
           NATIONAL GUARD BASE IN HARRISON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN

  Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 204

       Whereas 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of a military 
     installation operating in Harrison Township, Michigan;
       Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is named after 
     Army 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge, who saw the 
     potential of powered flight;
       Whereas Lieutenant Selfridge became the first casualty of 
     flight when he was killed during a demonstration flight with 
     Orville Wright in 1908;
       Whereas the Army commissioned Selfridge Field on July 1, 
     1917, and the first flight occurred on July 8, 1917;
       Whereas, on June 27, 1919, Selfridge Field became the home 
     of the 1st Pursuit Group, the oldest combat group in the Air 
     Force;
       Whereas, on October 14, 1922, 1st Lieutenant Russell 
     Maughan flew the first aircraft to exceed 200 miles per hour 
     at Selfridge Field;
       Whereas the 332d Fighter Group of the Tuskegee Airmen moved 
     to Selfridge Field on March 29, 1943, and Colonel Benjamin O. 
     Davis became its first African-American commander on October 
     8, 1943;
       Whereas, on July 20, 1948, the first transatlantic flight 
     by a fighter aircraft launched from Selfridge Field headed to 
     Berlin during the Berlin Airlift;
       Whereas, on July 1, 1971, Selfridge Field was transferred 
     to the Michigan Air National Guard, becoming the first major 
     active Air Force base to come under control of the Air 
     National Guard;
       Whereas, in 1991, Selfridge Air National Guard Base founded 
     the first STARBASE program, a Department of Defense program 
     for students in kindergarten through 12th grade that provides 
     math and science education;
       Whereas the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard 
     was established at Selfridge Air National Guard Base on April 
     1, 1996;
       Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is the host to at 
     least 40 tenant units representing every branch of the Armed 
     Forces, the Coast Guard, and representing members of the 
     Armed Forces serving on active duty, in a reserve component, 
     or in the National Guard;
       Whereas Selfridge Air National Guard Base is the home to 
     the KC-135 Stratotanker and the A-10 Thunderbolt II; and
       Whereas, as of the date of agreement to this resolution, 
     Selfridge Air National Guard Base is being considered to host 
     the F-35 Lightning II, the Air Force's newest fifth-
     generation fighter: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison 
     Township, Michigan, on its 100th anniversary; and
       (2) commends the thousands of men and women who have worked 
     and trained at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

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