[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 27102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



HONORING THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WHO DIED ON 
              DECEMBER 11, 2000, IN OSPREY AIRCRAFT CRASH

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 673) honoring the four members of the United States 
Marine Corps who died on December 11, 2000, and extending the 
condolences of the House of Representatives on their deaths, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 673

       Whereas on December 11, 2000, an MV-22 Osprey aircraft 
     crashed during a training mission near Jacksonville, North 
     Carolina, killing all four members of the United States 
     Marine Corps onboard;
       Whereas the Marines who lost their lives in the crash made 
     the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the United States 
     and the Marine Corps;
       Whereas the families of these proud Marines have the most 
     sincere condolences of the Nation;
       Whereas the members of the Marine Corps take special pride 
     in their esprit de corps, and this terrible loss will 
     resonate through Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 based at 
     Quantico, Virginia, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 
     204 based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North 
     Carolina, and the entire Marine Corps family;
       Whereas the Nation joins the Commandant of the entire 
     Marine Corps and the Marine Corps in mourning their loss; and
       Whereas the Marines killed in the accident were--
       (1) Lieutenant Colonel Keith M. Sweaney, 42, of Richmond, 
     Virginia, assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, based at 
     Quantico, Virginia;
       (2) Major Michael L. Murphy, 38, of Blauvelt, New York, 
     assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, 
     based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina;
       (3) Staff Sergeant Avely W. Runnels, 25, of Morven, 
     Georgia, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training 
     Squadron 204, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, 
     North Carolina; and
       (4) Sergeant Jason A. Buyck, 24, of Sodus, New York, 
     assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, 
     based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina: 
     Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) has learned with profound sorrow of the deaths of four 
     members of the United States Marine Corps in the crash of an 
     MV-22 Osprey aircraft on December 11, 2000, during a training 
     mission near Jacksonville, North Carolina, and extends 
     condolences to the families of those four members of the 
     Marine Corps;
       (2) recognizes that those four members of the Marine Corps 
     embodied the credo of the Marine Corps, ``Semper Fidelis'';
       (3) expresses its profound gratitude to those four members 
     of the Marine Corps for the dedicated and honorable service 
     they rendered to the United States and the Marine Corps; and
       (4) recognizes with appreciation and respect the loyalty 
     and sacrifice their families have demonstrated in support of 
     the Marine Corps.
       Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the 
     Commandant of the Marine Corps and to the families of each 
     member of the Marine Corps killed in the accident referred to 
     in the first section of this resolution.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________

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