IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 160
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should continue
to honor its commitment to the United States aviators who lost their
lives flying for France during World War I by appropriating sufficient
funds to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 13, 2001
Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. HALL of Ohio,
Mr. MCKEON, Ms. HART, Mr. LINDER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr.
HOSTETTLER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. KLECZKA) submitted the fol-
lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States
should continue to honor its commitment to the United
States aviators who lost their lives flying for France
during World War I by appropriating sufficient funds
to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille, an aviation squadron with-
in the French Lafayette Flying Corps, was formed April
16, 1916;
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille consisted of aviators from
the United States who volunteered to fight for the people
of France during World War I;
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Whereas 265 volunteers from the United States served in the
Lafayette Flying Corps, completing 3,000 combat sorties
and amassing nearly 200 victories;
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille won 4 Legions of Honor,
7 Medailles Militaires, and 31 citations, each with a
Croix de Guerre;
Whereas in 1918 command of the Lafayette Escadrille was
transferred to the United States, where the Lafayette Es-
cadrille became the combat air force of the United States;
Whereas in 1921 a Franco-American committee was orga-
nized to locate a final resting place for the 68 United
States aviators who lost their lives flying for France dur-
ing World War I;
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial was dedicated on
July 4, 1928, in honor of all United States aviators who
flew for France during World War I;
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Foundation, lo-
cated in the United States and in France, was founded
by Nelson Cromwell in 1930 and endowed with a
$1,500,000 trust for the maintenance and upkeep of the
Lafayette Escadrille Memorial;
Whereas environmental conditions have contributed to struc-
tural damage to, and the overall degradation of, the La-
fayette Escadrille Memorial, preventing the holding of
memorial services inside the crypt;
Whereas the French Government has pledged funds to sup-
port a restoration of the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial;
and
Whereas the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial should be re-
stored to its original beauty to honor all the United
States aviators who flew for France during World War
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I and to demonstrate the respect of the United States for
the sacrifices made by all Americans who have served our
Nation and our allies: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the
United States should continue to honor its commitment
to the United States aviators who lost their lives flying
for France during World War I by appropriating sufficient
funds to restore the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.
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