III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 301

Designating August 16, 2000, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 1, 2000

Mr. THURMOND (for himself, Mr. HELMS, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. SPECTER, Mr.

ROBB, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr. KERRY, Mr. DEWINE, Mr.

EDWARDS, Mr. INOUYE, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. DURBIN,

Mr. NICKLES, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. BYRD, Mr. ASHCROFT,

Mr. REID, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. ROTH, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. HATCH, Ms.

SNOWE, Mr. GREGG, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. CLELAND, Mr. BOND, Mr.

BUNNING, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. KOHL, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr.

SMITH of New Hampshire, Mr. DODD, Mr. SANTORUM, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. FEINGOLD, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. HAGEL, Mr.

KENNEDY, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. GRAMM, Mr. FRIST, Mr. REED, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. WARNER, Mr. ENZI, Mr. GORTON, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. KERREY, Mr. DOMENICI, and

Mr. THOMPSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on the Judiciary

JULY 27, 2000

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Designating August 16, 2000, as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’.

Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon was authorized by the

War Department on June 25, 1940, to experiment with

the potential use of airborne troops;

Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon was composed of 48 volunteers that began training in July, 1940;
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Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon performed the first official Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940;

Whereas the success of the Parachute Test Platoon led to the

formation of a large and successful airborne contingent

serving from World War II until the present;

Whereas the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne Divisions and the numerous other regimental and battalionsized airborne units were organized following the success

of the Parachute Test Platoon;

Whereas the 501st Parachute Battalion participated successfully and valiantly in achieving victory in World War II;

Whereas the airborne achievements during World War II provided the basis for continuing the development of a diversified force of parachute and air assault troops;

Whereas paratroopers, glidermen, and air assault troops of

the United States were and are proud members of the

world’s most exclusive and honorable fraternity, have

earned and wear the ‘‘Silver Wings of Courage’’, have

participated in a total of 93 combat jumps, and have distinguished themselves in battle by earning 69 Congressional Medals of Honor, the highest military decoration

of the United States, and hundreds of Distinguished

Service Crosses and Silver Stars;

Whereas these airborne forces have performed in important

military and peacekeeping operations, wherever needed,

in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Sinai, the

Dominican Republic, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia; and

Whereas the Senate joins together with the airborne community to celebrate August 16, 2000 (the 60th anniversary

of the first official parachute jump by the Parachute Test
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Platoon), as ‘‘National Airborne Day’’: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) designates August 16, 2000, as ‘‘National

3 Airborne Day’’; and

4 (2) requests that the President issue a procla5 mation calling on Federal, State, and local adminis6 trators and the people of the United States to ob7 serve the day with appropriate programs, cere8 monies, and activities.

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