IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 799 

Honoring the Virgin Islands National Guard on its 50th anniversary. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 19, 2023 

Ms. PLASKETT submitted the following resolution 

OCTOBER 25, 2023 

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the Virgin Islands National Guard on its 50th 

anniversary. 

Whereas the Virgin Islands National Guard was founded on 

October 19, 1973, in a ceremony officiated by Major 

General La Vern E. Weber, Director of the United States 

Army National Guard; 

Whereas October 19, 2023, marks 50 years since the Virgin 

Islands National Guard was established; 

Whereas the founders of the Virgin Islands National Guard, 

who were veterans of foreign wars, believed that the territory of the Virgin Islands was vulnerable and in a general 

state of unreadiness following the incorporation of the 

Virgin Islands as a territory of the United States; 


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•HRES 799 IH 

Whereas the Virgin Islands National Guard and the thousands of members who have served in the Virgin Islands 

National Guard have made a vital contribution to the national defense of the United States over the last 50 years; 

Whereas the Virgin Islanders in the United States Armed 

Forces have served and fought in every major United 

States military conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries; 

Whereas, dating back to Hurricanes David and Frederick in 

1979, the Virgin Islands National Guard has aided in 

disaster relief efforts and responded to major disasters, 

including Hurricane Hugo, Hurricane Marilyn, Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas the Virgin Islands Army and Air National Guard 

have served and fought in major United States military 

conflicts since 1973, including Operation Desert Storm, 

Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas, in response to the catastrophic events of September 

11, 2001, the Virgin Islands National Guard was deployed to missions worldwide, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kosovo, Haiti, and Cuba; 

Whereas members of the Virgin Islands National Guard have 

made the ultimate sacrifice in their valiant service to the 

Nation, including two servicemembers who were killed in 

action while serving in active duty during Operation Iraqi 

Freedom; 

Whereas in keeping with the National Guard’s motto of ‘‘Always Ready, Always There!’’, the members of the Virgin 

Islands National Guard aided law enforcement in creating a secure environment for the 59th inaugural ceremonies; 


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•HRES 799 IH 

Whereas, throughout their deployments to the National Capital Region in early 2021, the members of the Virgin Islands National Guard were instrumental in securing the 

peaceful transfer of power, one of the hallmarks of our 

Republic; 

Whereas the members of the Virgin Islands National Guard 

completed their mission while also responding to, and 

working to mitigate, the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas members of the Virgin Islands National Guard serve 

their country and their community on a daily basis; 

Whereas members of the Virgin Islands National Guard have 

served as ambassadors on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands and the United States throughout the world 

in times of peace and war; 

Whereas the Virgin Islands Army National Guard and Air 

National Guard embody the values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage; and 

Whereas the members of the Virgin Islands National Guard 

and their families deserve commendation for their sacrifices and dedication over the last 50 years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors and commends the Virgin Islands 

3 National Guard for its 50 years of outstanding serv4 ice to the Virgin Islands and the United States; and 

5 (2) sends its sincere gratitude to the thousands 

6 of men and women who have served in the Virgin IsVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:27 Nov 01, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR799.IH HR799

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•HRES 799 IH 

1 lands National Guard for their contributions to their 

2 country and their community. 

Æ 


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