IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 332

Recognizing the United States Military Academy on its bicentennial.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 14, 2002

Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. TAYLOR of

North Carolina, Mr. MCHUGH, and Mrs. KELLY) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed

Services

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Recognizing the United States Military Academy on its

bicentennial.

Whereas many of the Founding Fathers, particularly George

Washington, supported the establishment of a national

military academy to teach the technical arts of war;

Whereas on March 16, 1802, the United States Military

Academy was established at West Point, New York, a location that George Washington called the key to the continent because of its strategic importance during the Revolutionary War, to promote scientific education among,

and attract a diverse array of young men into, the military leadership of the United States;

Whereas Sylvanus Thayer served as the superintendent of the

United States Military Academy from 1817 until 1833,
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•HCON 332 IH

during which time he established a strong academic program, demanded strict adherence to discipline, and emphasized moral and ethical conduct;

Whereas the United States Military Academy was the first

school in the United States to teach engineering, and

produced graduates who were responsible for the construction of many of the Nation’s first railroads, harbors,

bridges, roads, and canals;

Whereas graduates of the United States Military Academy

taught many of the first engineering courses offered at

colleges and universities in the United States;

Whereas Douglas MacArthur served as the superintendent of

the United States Military Academy from 1919 until

1922 and sought to modernize the Academy and prepare

it for the challenges of the 20th century;

Whereas graduates of the United States Military Academy

have served with character and distinction in every war

and military action in which the United States has been

engaged since the War of 1812;

Whereas 74 of the recipients of the Medal of Honor were

graduates of the United States Military Academy;

Whereas the supervisor of the Panama Canal project and the

director of the Manhattan Project were graduates of the

United States Military Academy;

Whereas President Ulysses S. Grant and President Dwight

D. Eisenhower were graduates of the United States Military Academy;

Whereas graduates of the United States Military Academy

have served in Federal, State, and local government, including as members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States;
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•HCON 332 IH

Whereas dozens of graduates of the United States Military

Academy have served as astronauts, including Edward H.

White, II, the first American to walk in space, and

Edwin E. ‘‘Buzz’’ Aldrin, Jr., and David R. Scott, who

both walked on the moon;

Whereas many graduates of the United States Military Academy have served in industry, providing the managerial

and technical expertise to make the free enterprise system of the United States admired worldwide;

Whereas the United States Military Academy has provided an

opportunity for thousands of men and women of all races,

religions, and cultures to receive an education and begin

a life of service to the Army and the United States; and

Whereas the motto of the United States Military Academy,

‘‘Duty, Honor, Country’’, exemplifies the spirit of the Republic: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress recognizes the United States

3 Military Academy on its bicentennial for instilling out4 standing leadership skills in its graduates, upholding the

5 highest virtues of the people of the United States, and pro6 viding 58,000 graduates with the skills necessary to serve

7 the Army, the United States, and friends of freedom and

8 liberty worldwide.

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