IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 160

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should continue

to honor its commitment to the United States aviators who lost their

lives flying for France during World War I by appropriating sufficient

funds to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 13, 2001

Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. HALL of Ohio,

Mr. MCKEON, Ms. HART, Mr. LINDER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr.

HOSTETTLER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. KLECZKA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States

should continue to honor its commitment to the United

States aviators who lost their lives flying for France

during World War I by appropriating sufficient funds

to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille, an aviation squadron within the French Lafayette Flying Corps, was formed April

16, 1916;

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille consisted of aviators from

the United States who volunteered to fight for the people

of France during World War I;
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Whereas 265 volunteers from the United States served in the

Lafayette Flying Corps, completing 3,000 combat sorties

and amassing nearly 200 victories;

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille won 4 Legions of Honor,

7 Medailles Militaires, and 31 citations, each with a

Croix de Guerre;

Whereas in 1918 command of the Lafayette Escadrille was

transferred to the United States, where the Lafayette Escadrille became the combat air force of the United States;

Whereas in 1921 a Franco-American committee was organized to locate a final resting place for the 68 United

States aviators who lost their lives flying for France during World War I;

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial was dedicated on

July 4, 1928, in honor of all United States aviators who

flew for France during World War I;

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Foundation, located in the United States and in France, was founded

by Nelson Cromwell in 1930 and endowed with a

$1,500,000 trust for the maintenance and upkeep of the

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial;

Whereas environmental conditions have contributed to structural damage to, and the overall degradation of, the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, preventing the holding of

memorial services inside the crypt;

Whereas the French Government has pledged funds to support a restoration of the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial;

and

Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial should be restored to its original beauty to honor all the United

States aviators who flew for France during World War
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I and to demonstrate the respect of the United States for

the sacrifices made by all Americans who have served our

Nation and our allies: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the

3 United States should continue to honor its commitment

4 to the United States aviators who lost their lives flying

5 for France during World War I by appropriating sufficient

6 funds to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.

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