IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1551 

Expressing support for the designation of October 23, 2024, as a national 

day of remembrance of the tragic 1983 terrorist bombing of the United 

States Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 22, 2024 

Mr. PENCE (for himself and Ms. STEFANIK) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of October 23, 2024, 

as a national day of remembrance of the tragic 1983 

terrorist bombing of the United States Marine Corps 

barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. 

Whereas the United States deployed members of the Armed 

Forces to Lebanon in 1982 as part of a multinational 

peacekeeping force; 

Whereas, at 6:22 a.m. local time on October 23, 1983, a 

truck packed with explosives detonated outside of a building at Beirut International Airport that served as quarters for several hundred members of the United States 

Armed Forces deployed as part of the peacekeeping force; 


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•HRES 1551 IH 

Whereas 241 members of the Armed Forces lost their lives 

in the blast; 

Whereas the attack killed 220 marines, members of the 1st 

Battalion, 8th Marines Battalion Landing Team; 

Whereas October 23, 1983, was the deadliest day for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 

1945 during World War II; 

Whereas, in addition to the Marine Corps casualties, 18 Navy 

sailors and 3 Army soldiers were killed, and more than 

100 other members of the Armed Forces were injured; 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces from 39 States and 

Puerto Rico died while serving in Beirut, Lebanon, from 

1982 to 1984; 

Whereas, on the same day as the bombing of the Marine 

Corps barracks, another suicide bomber killed 58 French 

paratroopers housed at another barracks in Beirut; 

Whereas this terrorist attack on October 23, 1983, followed 

a separate tragic suicide bombing, on April 18, 1983, 

that killed 63 people, including 17 Americans, and injured 120 others in front of the United States Embassy 

in Beirut; and 

Whereas it is fitting and proper that the events of October 

23, 1983, and the members of the United States Armed 

Forces who died in Beirut on that day are recognized and 

commemorated through the establishment of a national 

day of remembrance on October 23: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of a national day 

3 of remembrance for members of the United States 


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•HRES 1551 IH 

1 Armed Forces who were killed or injured by the ter2 rorist attack on the United States Marine Corps 

3 barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 23, 1983; 

4 (2) honors the Gold Star Families who lost 

5 their loved ones more than three decades ago; 

6 (3) remembers the faith and loyalty of the sol7 diers, sailors, and marines who laid down their lives 

8 to protect our freedoms; and all veterans who have 

9 so nobly worn the uniform of our Armed Forces; and 

10 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

11 to honor the fallen by supporting and participating 

12 in appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other ac13 tivities in observance of such a national day of re14 membrance. 

Æ 


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