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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 625 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 625

         Designating August 16, 2008, as National Airborne Day.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 25, 2008

 Mr. Hagel (for himself, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Ms. 
 Snowe, and Mr. Stevens) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
         Designating August 16, 2008, as National Airborne Day.

Whereas the airborne forces of the Armed Forces have a long and honorable 
        history as units of adventuresome, hardy, and fierce warriors who, for 
        the national security of the United States and the defense of freedom 
        and peace, project the effective ground combat power of the United 
        States by Air Force air transport to the far reaches of the battle area 
        and, indeed, to the far corners of the world;
Whereas August 16 marks the anniversary of the first official Army parachute 
        jump on August 16, 1940, an event that validated the innovative concept 
        of inserting United States ground combat forces behind the battle line 
        by means of a parachute;
Whereas the United States experiment of airborne infantry attack began on June 
        25, 1940, when the Army Parachute Test Platoon was first authorized by 
        the Department of War, and was launched when 48 volunteers began 
        training in July 1940;
Whereas the success of the Parachute Test Platoon in the days immediately 
        preceding the entry of the United States into World War II led to the 
        formation of a formidable force of airborne units that have served with 
        distinction and have had repeated success in armed hostilities;
Whereas among those airborne units are the former 11th, 13th, and 17th Airborne 
        Divisions, the venerable 82nd Airborne Division, the versatile 101st 
        Airborne Division (Air Assault), and the airborne regiments and 
        battalions (some as components of those divisions, some as separate 
        units) that achieved distinction as the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, the 
        173rd Airborne Brigade, the 187th Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, the 
        503rd, 507th, 508th, 517th, 541st, and 542nd Parachute Infantry 
        Regiments, the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, the 509th, 551st, and 
        555th Parachute Infantry Battalions, the 325th and 327th Glider 
        Infantry, and the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion;
Whereas the achievements of the airborne forces during World War II prompted the 
        evolution of those forces into a diversified force of parachute and air 
        assault units that, over the years, have fought in Korea, Vietnam, 
        Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf region, and Somalia, and have engaged 
        in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, the 
        Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo;
Whereas the modern-day airborne force that has evolved from those World War II 
        beginnings is an agile, powerful force that, in large part, is composed 
        of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air 
        Assault), and the 75th Ranger Regiment;
Whereas the modern-day airborne force also includes other elite forces composed 
        entirely of airborne trained and qualified special operations warriors, 
        including Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Reconnaissance units, Navy 
        SEALs, and Air Force combat control teams, all or most of which comprise 
        the forces of the United States Special Operations Command;
Whereas in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on 
        September 11, 2001, the 75th Ranger Regiment, special forces units, and 
        units of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division (Air 
        Assault), together with other units of the Armed Forces, have been 
        prosecuting the war against terrorism by carrying out combat operations 
        in Afghanistan, training operations in the Philippines, and other 
        operations elsewhere;
Whereas in the aftermath of the President's announcement of Operation Iraqi 
        Freedom in March 2003, the 75th Ranger Regiment, special forces units, 
        and units of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division 
        (Air Assault), the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 4th Brigade Combat 
        Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division, together with other units 
        of the Armed Forces, have been prosecuting the war against terrorism, 
        carrying out combat operations, conducting civil affairs missions, and 
        assisting in establishing democracy in Iraq;
Whereas the airborne forces are and will continue to be at the ready and the 
        forefront until the Global War on Terrorism is concluded;
Whereas of the members and former members of the United States airborne forces, 
        all have achieved distinction by earning the right to wear the 
        airborne's ``Silver Wings of Courage'', thousands have achieved the 
        distinction of making combat jumps, 69 have earned the Medal of Honor, 
        and hundreds have earned the Distinguished-Service Cross, Silver Star, 
        or other decorations and awards for displays of such traits as heroism, 
        gallantry, intrepidity, and valor;
Whereas the members and former members of the United States airborne forces are 
        members of a proud and honorable fraternity of the profession of arms 
        that is made exclusive by those distinctions which, together with their 
        special skills and achievements, distinguish them as intrepid combat 
        parachutists, special operation forces, and (in former days) glider 
        troops;
Whereas the history and achievements of the members and former members of the 
        airborne forces of the United States Armed Forces warrant special 
        expressions of the gratitude of the American people; and
Whereas, since the airborne community celebrates August 16 as the anniversary of 
        the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16 
        would be an appropriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates August 16, 2008, as ``National Airborne 
        Day''; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
        ``National Airborne Day'' with appropriate programs, 
        ceremonies, and activities.
                                 <all>
```