H. Con. Res. 47
Agreed to March 8, 2001
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and one
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas a C–23 Sherpa National Guard aircraft crashed in south-
central Georgia on March 3, 2001, killing all 21 National Guard
members on board;
Whereas of the 21 National Guard members on board, 18 were
members of the Virginia Air National Guard from the Hampton
Roads area of Virginia returning home following two weeks of
training duty in Florida and the other 3 were members of the
Florida Army National Guard who comprised the flight crew
of the aircraft;
Whereas the Virginia National Guard members killed, all of whom
were members of the 203rd Red Horse Engineering Flight of
Virginia Beach, Virginia, were Master Sergeant James Beninati,
46, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul J. Blancato,
38, of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Ernest Blawas, 47,
of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Andrew H. Bridges,
33, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Master Sergeant Eric Bulman, 59,
of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Paul Cramer, 43,
of Norfolk, Virginia; Technical Sergeant Michael East, 40, of
Parksley, Virginia; Staff Sergeant Ronald Elkin, 43, of Norfolk,
Virginia; Staff Sergeant James Ferguson, 41, of Newport News,
Virginia; Staff Sergeant Randy Johnson, 40, of Emporia, Virginia;
Senior Airman Mathrew Kidd, 23, of Hampton, Virginia; Master
Sergeant Michael Lane, 34, of Moyock, North Carolina; Technical
Sergeant Edwin Richardson, 48, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Tech-
nical Sergeant Dean Shelby, 39, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff
Sergeant John Sincavage, 27, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Staff Ser-
geant Gregory Skurupey, 34, of Gloucester, Virginia; Staff Ser-
geant Richard Summerell, 51, of Franklin, Virginia; and Major
Frederick Watkins, III, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia;
Whereas the Florida National Guard members killed, all of whom
were members of Detachment 1, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation,
of Lakeland, Florida, were Chief Warrant Officer John Duce,
49, of Orange Park, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer Eric Larson,
34, of Land-O-Lakes, Florida; and Staff Sergeant Robert Ward,
35, of Lakeland, Florida;
Whereas these members of the National Guard were performing
their duty in furtherance of the national security interests of
the United States;
Whereas the members of the Armed Forces, including the National
Guard, are routinely called upon to perform duties that place
their lives at risk; and
H. Con. Res. 47—2
Whereas the members of the National Guard who lost their lives
as a result of the aircraft crash on March 3, 2001, died in
the honorable service to the Nation and exemplified all that
is best in the American people: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That the Congress—
(1) honors the 18 members of the Virginia Air National
Guard and 3 members of the Florida Army National Guard
who were killed on March 3, 2001, in the crash of a C–23
Sherpa National Guard aircraft in south-central Georgia; and
(2) sends heartfelt condolences to their families, friends,
and loved ones.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.