PRINTER'S NO. 1479
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
264
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY GILLEN, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BIZZARRO,
CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, CORBIN, D. COSTA, COX, DRISCOLL, FARRY,
FREEMAN, GABLER, GOODMAN, GREINER, GROVE, HAHN, HENNESSEY,
HICKERNELL, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, KINSEY, KNOWLES, KORTZ,
LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT,
NEILSON, O'NEILL, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, READSHAW, SAYLOR, STURLA,
WARD AND WATSON, APRIL 19, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 19, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating April 18, 2017, as "Doolittle Raiders Remembrance
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, April 18, 2017, marks the 75th anniversary of the
Doolittle Raid, the first United States air attack on the main
island of Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor; and
WHEREAS, The raid is considered to have served as an enormous
boost to American morale in the Pacific following the
devastation from the Pearl Harbor attack and subsequent defeats
in the Pacific that had overwhelmed the spirit of the American
people and the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle led 16
B-25 bombers, launching off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet
in a daring attack on the home island of Japan, including Tokyo;
and
WHEREAS, The mission was known to be both dangerous and one
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of the first attempts to launch bombers from the deck of an
aircraft carrier; and
WHEREAS, Of the 80 servicepersons who conducted the raid,
later to be referred to as the Doolittle Raiders, 7 were killed
or fatally injured in the attack, 3 were executed by the
Japanese and 1 died from starvation as prisoners of war and four
others were tortured as prisoners of war until their release in
1945; and
WHEREAS, Most of the surviving Doolittle Raiders continued to
serve their country during the remainder of the war, resulting
in 10 men being killed in action and 4 men being shot down and
interned as German prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, All of the Doolittle Raiders received the
Distinguished Flying Cross, two received the Silver Star, and
Lt. Col. Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading
the mission; and
WHEREAS, The attack was a tremendous boost to American morale
and set the stage for future American victories such as the
Battle of Midway; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate April
18, 2017, as "Doolittle Raiders Remembrance Day" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage local
governments and the communities throughout this Commonwealth to
conduct appropriate "Doolittle Raiders Remembrance Day"
observances to ensure that the many sacrifices of that day are
not forgotten.
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