IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 488 
Honoring Americans who served as volunteers for the United States Office 
of Civilian Defense during World War II. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 7, 2011 
Mr. BISHOP of New York (for himself and Mr. HANNA) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring Americans who served as volunteers for the United 
States Office of Civilian Defense during World War II. 
Whereas the spread of warfare across Europe and Asia led 
to the establishment on May 20, 1941, of the United 
States Office of Civilian Defense by Executive Order 
8757 of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to ‘‘assure ef-
fective coordination of Federal relations with State and 
local governments engaged in defense activities, to pro-
vide for necessary cooperation with States and local gov-
ernments in respect to measures for adequate protection 
of the civilian population in emergency periods, to facili-
tate constructive civilian participation in the defense pro-
gram, and to sustain national morale’’; 
Whereas the December 7, 1941, attack by the Empire of 
Japan on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, precipitated the entry of 
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the United States into the worldwide conflict and sig-
naled a new era of warfare that demanded new efforts to 
protect the people of the United States from airborne as-
sault by an overseas enemy; 
Whereas in response to this new threat, the United States 
Office of Civilian Defense mobilized millions of volunteers 
to participate in efforts to enhance the preparedness of 
the United States in case of attack, including fire protec-
tion, communication and logistics, construction of bomb 
shelters, and air raid blackout drills; 
Whereas thousands of Americans unable to serve in the 
United States Armed Forces volunteered their service as 
Air Raid Wardens in communities across the United 
States during World War II, contributing to America’s 
defense against potential enemy assault and the ultimate 
victory of the Allied nations; 
Whereas a training manual distributed to Air Raid Wardens 
during World War II noted that ‘‘In the system of civil-
ian defense, the Air Raid Warden occupies the key posi-
tion. He is the field officer under whose supervision the 
efforts of the civilian population are directed in the tre-
mendous task of effective defense. Through the Air Raid 
Wardens, civilian activity is coordinated with that of the 
police and fire departments and other vital services.’’; 
Whereas training manuals distributed to Air Raid Wardens 
included ‘‘I am an Air Raid Warden’’, by Frank W. Ath-
erton, Chief Air Raid Warden, 1st District, United States 
Citizens’ Defense Corps of Michigan, which read, in part 
that ‘‘I am an Air Raid Warden. My country, my state 
and my community have given me many pleasant and 
fruitful years and now in time of trouble I feel that it 
is my duty to do my part in the work assigned to me in 
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helping to reduce to a minimum any harm that may come 
from without or within.’’; and 
Whereas Tony Pastor and His Orchestra released a song in 
1942, titled ‘‘Obey Your Air Raid Warden’’, which was 
widely distributed as a public service announcement and 
contained the following lyrics: ‘‘One, be calm. Two, get 
under shelter. Three, don’t run. Obey your air-raid war-
den. Four, stay home. Five, keep off the highway. Six, 
don’t phone. Obey your air-raid warden. There are rules 
that you should know, What to do and where to go, 
When you hear the sirens blow, Stop, look, and listen. 
Seven, don’t smoke. Eight, help all the kiddies. Most of 
all, obey your air-raid warden. Stop, look, and listen. Dim 
the lights, Wait for information, Most of all, obey your 
air-raid warden. Stop the panic, Don’t get in a huff, Our 
aim today is to call their bluff. Follow these rules and 
that is enough. Obey your air-raid warden.’’: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors the service of Air Raid Wardens and 
all other Americans who volunteered for service for 
the United States Office of Civilian Defense during 
World War II; 
(2) recognizes the important contributions of 
Air Raid Wardens and other volunteers of the 
United States Office of Civilian Defense to public 
safety, morale, and victory; and 
(3) encourages surviving Air Raid Wardens and 
other volunteers of the United States Office of Civil-
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ian Defense during the World War II to record and 
permanently preserve stories of their service for fu-
ture generations. 
Æ 
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