IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 229 
Honoring the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force 
Base, Delaware, for its service in providing dignified transfer of our 
Nation’s fallen heroes to their families and loved ones. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 15, 2011 
Mr. JONES (for himself and Mr. BUTTERFIELD) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at 
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for its service in pro-
viding dignified transfer of our Nation’s fallen heroes 
to their families and loved ones. 
Whereas the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (herein-
after referred to as ‘‘AFMAO’’) was activated December 
15, 2008, as a named activity of the Directorate of Serv-
ices, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters United 
States Air Force; 
Whereas it is the AFMAO’s mission and privilege to fulfill 
the Nation’s sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, 
honor, and respect to fallen members of the Armed 
Forces and care, service and support to their families; 
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•HRES 229 IH 
Whereas a solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted 
upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, from 
the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have 
given their lives in the service of the country; 
Whereas the AFMAO has a total force staff consisting of ac-
tive duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines as well 
as members of the reserve components of the Armed 
Forces and civilians; 
Whereas the staff also consists of representatives from Fed-
eral agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, who are 
responsible for the complete processing of remains; 
Whereas the AFMAO combines the missions of both the Air 
Force Mortuary Affairs and the Dover Port Mortuary at 
the Charles C. Carson Center; 
Whereas the Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Dela-
ware, began operations in 1955; 
Whereas the Port Mortuary is responsible for the return of 
all Department of Defense personnel and dependents 
from overseas contingency operations and other overseas 
deaths; 
Whereas about 80 military, civilian, and contractor personnel 
work in the Port Mortuary Division; 
Whereas the Port Mortuary has support from 55 deployed 
members of the active and reserve components of the 
Armed Forces, including from the Air Force, Army, Ma-
rines, and Navy, 6 permanent party licensed morticians, 
the 436th Airlift Wing, and during operations, support 
from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Office of 
the Armed Forces Medical Examiners, including patholo-
gists, anthropologists, and forensic photographers; 
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•HRES 229 IH 
Whereas support is also obtained from the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, licensed dental technicians, and inves-
tigators from the Army Criminal Investigation Division, 
the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, and the 
Naval Criminal Investigative Service; 
Whereas operations at the AFMAO are conducted 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week; and 
Whereas since the Dover Port Mortuary opened in 1955, the 
professional staff at Dover have reunited more than 
60,000 fallen heroes with their families and loved ones 
with the utmost dignity, honor, and respect: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors Air Force Mortuary Affairs Oper-
ations at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for its 
service in providing dignified transfer of our Na-
tion’s fallen heroes to their families and loved ones; 
(2) encourages the people of the United States 
to remember the actions of the dedicated military 
and civilian personnel who conduct the operations at 
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations; 
(3) calls upon the people of the United States 
to remember the fallen heroes who have given their 
lives for freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all pre-
vious conflicts; and 
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•HRES 229 IH 
(4) calls upon Members of Congress to attend 
a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base to 
honor the Nation’s fallen heroes. 
Æ 
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