[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 3016-3017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

   SENATE RESOLUTION 45--HORNORING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS 
COUNTRY IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES OF THE UNITED 
 STATES SENATE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE 21 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WHO 
                 PERISHED IN THE CRASH ON MARCH 3, 2001

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

                               S. Res. 45

       Whereas on March 3, 2001, a tragic crash of a C-23 from the 
     171st Aviation Battalion of the Florida Army National Guard, 
     carrying guardsmen from the 203rd Red Horse Unit of the 
     Virginia Air National Guard took the lives of 21 guardsmen;
       Whereas this unfortunate crash occurred during a routine 
     training mission;
       Whereas the National Guard is present in every state and 
     four protectorates and is comprised of citizen-soldiers and 
     airmen who continually support our active forces;
       Whereas members of the Tragedy Assistance Program for 
     Survivors were on site the day of the accident and generously 
     rendered assistance to family members and friends; and
       Whereas this is a somber reminder of the fact that the men 
     and women in the United States Armed Forces put their lives 
     on the line every day to protect this great Nation and that 
     each citizen should forever be grateful for the sacrifices 
     made by these men and women: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the contributions of the 21 National 
     Guardsmen who made the ultimate sacrifice to their Nation on 
     March 3, 2001;
       (2) expresses deep and heartfelt condolences to the 
     families and friends of the crash victims for this tragic 
     loss;
       (3) expresses appreciation for the members of the Tragedy 
     Assistance Program for Survivors for their continued support 
     to surviving family members; and
       (4) honors the men and women who serve this country through 
     the National Guard and is grateful for everything that each 
     guardsman gives to protect the United States of America.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, sadly, I rise today to talk about the 
recent crash of a National Guard aircraft in flying over Georgia. Last 
Friday, 21 members of the National Guard lost their lives in a horrible 
plane crash. How does one understand the death of 21 soldiers and 
airmen who dedicated their time and energy to contribute to our 
nation's defense?
  While there perhaps is no easy answer to this question, the 
patriotism and dedication of these men is without doubt. Nineteen 
served with the Virginia Air National Guard in the 203d Red Horse Unit. 
Three were of the 171st Aviation Battalion of the Florida Army National 
Guard. All come from a proud citizen-soldier tradition that dates back 
to the War of Independence.
  This was a routine mission for the fated C-23 Sherpa. With the 
Florida Guardsmen at the controls, the plane took off on Friday 
morning, headed for Virginia. Its passengers had just completed their 
two-weeks of annual training in Georgia, where they had honed their 
already refined construction abilities. They were heading back to their 
families and the civilian jobs. Alas, those reunions were never to 
occur.
  It is a great loss whenever a member of the armed services gives his 
or her life in the lien of duty. But perhaps because these men came 
straight out of local communities, because they were juggling the 
demands of work and family along with their national service, we feel 
the losses like these especially deeply. Their departure reminds us 
that our friends, colleagues, and neighbors in the National Guard make 
sacrifices every time they report for duty. They leave the comfort of 
their homes for the rigors of service. It is a sacrifice

[[Page 3017]]

that is worthy of honor and recognition, but often goes unnoticed until 
they make the ultimate sacrifice.
  With that in mind, I join with my colleague Senator Kit Bond in 
introducing a resolution that honors their service and expresses our 
heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

                          ____________________