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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 82

To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine Day’’.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 19, 1993

Mr. D’AMATO (for himself, Mr. MOYNIHAN, and Mr. WARNER) introduced the

following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine

Day’’.

Whereas the United States of America is a Nation of immigrants and the contributions of Irish immigrants, and

their descendants to the defense of the public liberty has

been a hallmark of Irish Americans;

Whereas officers and men of the Irish Brigade in the service

of France volunteered to fight for American liberty as

early as 1776, over two years before the entry of France

into our War for Independence; many were later recruited by Benjamin Franklin;

Whereas the Irish Brigade fought for American liberty in our

War for Independence at Savannah, Georgia; and Irish

troops of the Regiments of Dillon and Walsh of the Irish

Brigade at Gloucester Point, Virginia, under Count Ar-
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thur Dillon of the Legion of Lauzun in the Army of Rochambeau, closed the ring around Cornwallis at Yorktown, thus assuring victory for Washington and independence for the United States;

Whereas the predominantly Irish Thompson Battalion of

Pennsylvania became the keystone of Washington’s Continental Army and under Anthony Wayne, the Infantry

Line of Pennsylvania was known as ‘‘the Line of Ireland’’

and, a significant portion of the Continental/Revolutionary forces were Irish including Richard Montgomery,

Jeremiah O’Brien, Timothy Murphy, John Barry, Stephen Moylan, and John Sullivan;

Whereas the honor roll of Irish-American Marines extends

throughout the entire history of the United States Marine Corps, from November 10, 1775 to the present, including such names as Thomas Murphy, Maurice

O’Connell, Daniel Carmick, Presley Neville O’Bannon,

Charles G. McCawley, John Rannahan, Dan Daly, Edward R. Murphy, Raymond Davis, Robert Emmett

O’Malley, Martin Brandtner, P.X. Kelly, Michael Ryan,

Paddy Collins, and Al Gray;

Whereas one hundred and thirty seven men of the Regiment

of Walsh of the Irish Brigade, with their officers, Eugene

McCarthy, Edward Stack, and James O’Kelly, who volunteered to serve as American Continental Marines with

John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard, were inducted into the Marines on May 13, 1779, at L’Orient,

France, and were reviewed by John Adams, American

Commissioner to France, on that date;

Whereas the induction of these members of the Irish Brigade

into the American Continental Marines is shown in the

painting, ‘‘John Adams Reviews Jones’ Marines, May 13,
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1779’’, by Colonel Charles Waterhouse, USMCR, Artist

in Residence of the United States Marine Corps, and is

recorded in the Diary of John Adams and in Marines in

the Revolution by Charles Richard Smith;

Whereas the Marines on the Bonhomme Richard carried the

war to the enemy’s shores and, in action against the

HMS Serapis and HMS Countess of Scarborough off

Flamborough Head on September 23, 1779, so distinguished themselves in battle as to have made possible the

action which rendered the HMS Serapis unable to continue the contest, one of the most desperate and bloody

battles in American naval history;

Whereas indeed did the Irish Brigade volunteers on the

Bonhomme Richard proved themselves worthy of the tribute to the Irish brigade as ‘‘Semper et ubique Fidelis’’—

Always and everywhere faithful, while, at the same time,

earning their right to the motto ‘‘Semper Fidelis’’ as

American Marines;

Whereas the Leatherneck Scholarship Fund has chosen the

print by Colonel Charles Waterhouse, ‘‘John Adams Reviews Jones’ Marines, May 13, 1779’’, to illustrate the

tradition of service and sacrifice which inspired the scholarships dedicated to the memory of Captain Manuel Rivera, United States Marine Corps and Major Eugene

McCarthy, United States Marine Corps Reserve, to naval

aviators killed in action during Operation Desert Storm;

and

Whereas Irish Americans continue the tradition of honorable

military service in defense of the United States: Now,

therefore, be it
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1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That, May 13, 1994, is designated as ‘‘Irish Brigade Ma4 rines Day’’ and the President of the United States is au5 thorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling

6 upon the people of the United States to observe such day

7 with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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