H. Con. Res. 47 Agreed to March 8, 2001

One Hundred Seventh Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the third day of January, two thousand and one

Concurrent Resolution

Whereas a C–23 Sherpa National Guard aircraft crashed in southcentral Georgia on March 3, 2001, killing all 21 National Guard

members on board;

Whereas of the 21 National Guard members on board, 18 were

members of the Virginia Air National Guard from the Hampton

Roads area of Virginia returning home following two weeks of

training duty in Florida and the other 3 were members of the

Florida Army National Guard who comprised the flight crew

of the aircraft;

Whereas the Virginia National Guard members killed, all of whom

were members of the 203rd Red Horse Engineering Flight of

Virginia Beach, Virginia, were Master Sergeant James Beninati,

46, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul J. Blancato,

38, of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Ernest Blawas, 47,

of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Andrew H. Bridges,

33, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Master Sergeant Eric Bulman, 59,

of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul Cramer, 43,

of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Michael East, 40, of

Parksley, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Ronald Elkin, 43, of Norfolk,

Virginia; Staff Sergeant James Ferguson, 41, of Newport News,

Virginia; Staff Sergeant Randy Johnson, 40, of Emporia, Virginia;

Senior Airman Mathrew Kidd, 23, of Hampton, Virginia; Master

Sergeant Michael Lane, 34, of Moyock, North Carolina; Technical

Sergeant Edwin Richardson, 48, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Dean Shelby, 39, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff

Sergeant John Sincavage, 27, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Gregory Skurupey, 34, of Gloucester, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Richard Summerell, 51, of Franklin, Virginia; and Major

Frederick Watkins, III, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;

Whereas the Florida National Guard members killed, all of whom

were members of Detachment 1, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation,

of Lakeland, Florida, were Chief Warrant Officer John Duce,

49, of Orange Park, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer Eric Larson,

34, of Land-O-Lakes, Florida; and Staff Sergeant Robert Ward,

35, of Lakeland, Florida;

Whereas these members of the National Guard were performing

their duty in furtherance of the national security interests of

the United States;

Whereas the members of the Armed Forces, including the National

Guard, are routinely called upon to perform duties that place

their lives at risk; and
H. Con. Res. 47—2

Whereas the members of the National Guard who lost their lives

as a result of the aircraft crash on March 3, 2001, died in

the honorable service to the Nation and exemplified all that

is best in the American people: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress—

(1) honors the 18 members of the Virginia Air National

Guard and 3 members of the Florida Army National Guard

who were killed on March 3, 2001, in the crash of a C–23

Sherpa National Guard aircraft in south-central Georgia; and

(2) sends heartfelt condolences to their families, friends,

and loved ones.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.