IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 41 
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States declaration of 
war against Germany and entry into World War I and recognizing 
and appreciating the lasting historical significance and heroic human 
endeavor and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces in that con-
flict. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 29, 2017 
Mr. JONES (for himself and Ms. SHEA-PORTER) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the United States 
declaration of war against Germany and entry into World 
War I and recognizing and appreciating the lasting his-
torical significance and heroic human endeavor and sac-
rifice of the United States Armed Forces in that conflict. 
Whereas the United States declared war against Germany on 
April 6, 1917, to redress wrongs, including Germany’s re-
sumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, violation of 
United States neutrality, and denial of freedom of the 
seas to nonbelligerent nations; 
Whereas the United States associated itself with the allied 
powers of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth, 
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•HCON 41 IH 
France and its colonies, Russia, Italy, and Japan to de-
feat the German Empire; 
Whereas the United States Army, consisting of the Regular 
Army, National Guard, and Reserve Corps, with the ad-
dition of volunteers and the draftees of the National 
Army, underwent a transformation from a frontier con-
stabulary and coastal defense force to a modern land- 
warfare force; 
Whereas early 20th century military and technological ad-
vances resulted in the incorporation of motor transport, 
aviation, anti-aircraft artillery, tanks, chemical weapons, 
aircraft carriers, submarines and anti-submarine warfare, 
sonar, underwater mines, and other innovations into the 
military arsenal of the United States; 
Whereas the need to quickly build a military strength of four 
million soldiers and half a million sailors required the 
mobilization of the human resources of the United States, 
during which members of diverse ethnic groups, races, 
and creeds, both native-born and immigrant, forged a 
new American identity; 
Whereas the United States Army maintained its defense of 
American seacoasts, southern border, and overseas pos-
sessions, while the Army American Expeditionary Forces 
deployed ‘‘Over There’’ for combat operations in Europe 
starting in June 1917; 
Whereas by the end of World War I, almost two million mem-
bers of the Army served overseas in the American Expe-
ditionary Forces; 
Whereas, during World War I, the United States Navy in-
creased in strength from approximately 69,000 officers 
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and sailors and 342 vessels to more than 533,000 officers 
and sailors and 774 vessels; 
Whereas the Navy operated in the Atlantic and Pacific 
Oceans, and the North and Mediterranean Seas in co-
operation with allied navies; 
Whereas the Navy began the fight against the German U- 
boat menace by dispatching destroyers, which eventually 
totaled 70 in number, and 169 other vessels to counter 
the submarine threat; 
Whereas Navy vessels escorted troop transports carrying 
1,250,000 passengers and escorted supply transports car-
rying 27 percent of all cargo shipped to Europe; 
Whereas the Navy deployed five batteries of large-caliber bat-
tleship guns mounted on railroad trains to France for 
service as long-range artillery for the Army; 
Whereas the United States Coast Guard transferred to the 
operational control of the Navy, and augmented that 
service with approximately 5,000 officers and sailors, 47 
vessels of all types, and 279 shore stations; 
Whereas the United States Marine Corps, with an eventual 
wartime strength of 75,000 officers and men, detached 
two regiments and a machine gun battalion to constitute 
an infantry brigade integrated into the Army’s 2d Divi-
sion for service in France; 
Whereas, on July 4, 1917, Colonel Charles E. Stanton, one 
of the officers on the staff of General John Pershing, 
commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Eu-
rope, famously announced America’s commitment to the 
fight when Colonel Stanton proclaimed upon his arrival 
in France, ‘‘Lafayette, we are here!’’; 
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Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces formed three 
field armies, nine corps and forty-three divisions, plus 
various units of the Services of Supply; 
Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces suffered 
244,000 casualties in fighting in thirteen named cam-
paigns in World War I; and 
Whereas participation in World War I resulted in the comple-
tion of a period of reform and professionalism that trans-
formed the Armed Forces from a small dispersed organi-
zation to a modern industrialized fighting force capable 
of global reach and influence: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) honors the memory of the fallen heroes who 
wore the uniform of the United States Armed 
Forces during World War I; 
(2) commends the Unites States Armed Forces 
for preserving and protecting the interests of the 
United States during World War I; 
(3) commends the brave members of the United 
States Armed Forces for their efforts in ‘‘making 
the world safe for democracy,’’ and preserving the 
founding principles of the United States at home 
and abroad during World War I; 
(4) commends the brave members of the United 
States Armed Forces for preserving and protecting 
the sea lanes of commerce and communications dur-
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•HCON 41 IH 
ing World War I that ensured the continued pros-
perity of the United States; 
(5) celebrates and congratulates the United 
States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and 
Coast Guard during the commemoration of the cen-
tennial of World War I for a job well done; and 
(6) calls on all people of the United States to 
join in the commemoration of the centennial of 
World War I in events throughout the United States 
and overseas. 
Æ 
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