IA
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 112
To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine Day’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 17, 1993
Mr. FISH introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
JOINT RESOLUTION
To designate May 13, 1994, as ‘‘Irish Brigade—Marine
Day’’.
Whereas the United States of America is a Nation of immi-
grants and the contributions of Irish immigrants, and
their descendants to the defense of the public liberty has
been a hallmark of Irish Americans;
Whereas officers and men of the Irish Brigade in the service
of France volunteered to fight for American liberty as
early as 1776, over two years before the entry of France
into our War for Independence; many were later re-
cruited by Benjamin Franklin;
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Whereas the Irish Brigade fought for American liberty in our
War for Independence at Savannah, Georgia; and Irish
troops of the Regiments of Dillon and Walsh of the Irish
Brigade at Gloucester Point, Virginia, under Count Ar-
thur Dillon of the Legion of Lauzun in the Army of Ro-
chambeau, closed the ring around Cornwallis at York-
town, thus assuring victory for Washington and inde-
pendence for the United States;
Whereas the predominantly Irish Thompson Battalion of
Pennsylvania become the keystone of Washington’s Con-
tinental Army and under Anthony Wayne, the Infantry
Line of Pennsylvania was known as ‘the Line of Ireland’
and, a significant portion of the Continental/Revolution-
ary forces were Irish including Richard Montgomery,
Jeremiah O’Brien, Timothy Murphy, John Barry, Ste-
phen Moylan and John Sullivan;
Whereas the honor roll of Irish-American Marines extends
throughout the entire history of the United States Ma-
rine Corps, from 10 November 1775 to the present, in-
cluding such names as Thomas Murphy, Maurice
O’Connell, Daniel Carmick, Presley Neville O’Bannon,
Charles G. McCawley, John Rannahan, Dan Daly, Ed-
ward R. Murphy, Raymond Davis, Robert Emmett
O’Malley, Martin Brandtner, P.X. Kelly, Michael Ryan,
Paddy Collins and Al Gray;
Whereas 137 men of the Regiment of Walsh of the Irish Bri-
gade, with their officers, Eugene MacCarthy, Edward
Stack and James O’Kelly, who volunteered to serve as
American Continental Marines with John Paul Jones on
the BONHOMME RICHARD, were inducted into the
Marines on 13 May 1779 at L’Orient, France, and were
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reviewed by John Adams, American Commissioner to
France, on that date;
Whereas the induction of these members of the Irish Brigade
into the American Continental Marines is shown in the
painting, ‘‘JOHN ADAMS REVIEWS JONES’ MA-
RINES, 13 MAY 1779’’ by Colonel Charles Waterhouse,
USMCR, Artist in Residence of the United States Marine
Corps, and is recorded in the Diary of John Adams and
in Marines in the Revolution by Charles Richard Smith;
Whereas the Marines on the BONHOMME RICHARD car-
ried the war to the enemy’s shores and, in action against
the HMS SERAPIS and HMS COUNTESS OF
SCARBOROUGH off Flamborough Head on 23 Septem-
ber 1779, so distinguished themselves in battle as to have
made possible the action which rendered the HMS
SERAPIS unable to continue the contest, one of the
most desperate and bloody battles in American naval his-
tory;
Whereas indeed did the Irish Brigade volunteers on the
BONHOMME RICHARD proved themselves worthy of
the tribute to the Irish brigade as ‘‘Semper et ubique
Fidelis’’ -- Always and everywhere Faithful, while, at the
same time, earning their right to the motto ‘‘SEMPER
FIDELIS’’ as American Marines;
Whereas the Leatherneck Scholarship Fund has chosen the
print by Colonel Charles Warehouse, ‘‘JOHN ADAMS
REVIEWS JONES’ MARINES, 13 MAY 1779’’ to illus-
trate the tradition of service and sacrifice which inspired
the scholarships dedicated to the memory of Captain
Manuel Rivera, United States Marine Corps and Major
Eugene McCarthy, United States Marine Corps Reserve,
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two naval aviators killed in action during OPERATION
DESERT STORM; and
Whereas Irish Americans continue the tradition of honorable
military service in defense of the United States: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That, May 13, 1994, is designated as ‘‘Irish Brigade Ma-
rines Day’’ and the President of the United States is au-
thorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling
upon the people of the United States to observe such day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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