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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1356 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1356

   Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the birth of General John J. 
                  Pershing, an American military hero.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2010

 Mr. Skelton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Recognizing the 150th anniversary of the birth of General John J. 
                  Pershing, an American military hero.

Whereas John Joseph Pershing was born near Laclede, Missouri, in 1860, to his 
        parents, John Fletcher Pershing and Ann Elizabeth Thompson Pershing;
Whereas Pershing completed his high school education in 1878 and supported his 
        family, in his father's absence, by teaching in the public education 
        system of the State of Missouri, City of Laclede;
Whereas Pershing entered the Kirksville Normal School, now Truman State 
        University, in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1880;
Whereas Pershing applied to the United States Military Academy and left Missouri 
        to be sworn in as a West Point cadet in 1882;
Whereas Pershing was tapped early for leadership and became successively First 
        Corporal, First Sergeant, and First Captain, the highest cadet rank 
        before his West Point graduation in 1886;
Whereas Pershing reported for active military duty on September 30, 1886, and 
        began his extraordinary military career, distinguishing himself in the 
        Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, and the Punitive 
        Expedition into Mexico;
Whereas Pershing's great personal tragedy, the loss by fire of his wife Frances 
        Warren Pershing and three young daughters, did not dampen his dedication 
        to military service, and when President Woodrow Wilson named Pershing 
        Commander of the American Expeditionary Force, following America's 
        entrance into World War I, he commanded nearly 2 million men in Europe;
Whereas in 1919 the United States Congress recognized Pershing's distinguished 
        service during World War I and authorized the President to promote 
        Pershing to General of the Armies of the United States, the highest rank 
        possible for any member of the United States Armed Forces, outranking 
        even five-star generals and bestowed on only one other American, General 
        George Washington, posthumously in 1976;
Whereas General Pershing served as mentor to the next generation of America's 
        great military leaders, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. 
        Eisenhower, and George S. Patton;
Whereas General Pershing died of congestive heart failure on July 15, 1948, and 
        the City of Laclede, the State of Missouri, and the entire United States 
        mourned the loss of a national hero;
Whereas General Pershing was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on July 19, 
        1948, after lying in state in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol;
Whereas the life and career of General Pershing continue to inspire members of 
        the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Division of 
        State Parks, the Pershing Days Committee, and the Pershing Park Memorial 
        Association plan to have a celebration honoring General Pershing at 
        Pershing Days on September 11, 2010, in Laclede, Missouri: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 150th anniversary of the birth of 
        General John J. Pershing; and
            (2) extends the appreciation of a most grateful Nation for 
        his service to the United States.
                                 <all>
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