PRINTER'S NO. 2124
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
478
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY VULAKOVICH, COSTA, ARGALL, AUMENT, BAKER,
BARTOLOTTA, BLAKE, BREWSTER, BROOKS, BROWNE, DINNIMAN,
EICHELBERGER, FOLMER, FONTANA, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, HUGHES,
HUTCHINSON, KILLION, MARTIN, MENSCH, RAFFERTY, REGAN,
RESCHENTHALER, SCHWANK, STREET, WARD, WHITE AND YUDICHAK,
OCTOBER 17, 2018
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 17, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the cessation of
hostilities of World War I, and recognizing and honoring the
historical significance and valorous service and sacrifice of
the United States Armed Forces.
WHEREAS, The United States entered World War I with a
declaration of war against Germany on April 6, 1917, in response
to German maritime aggression, including the sinking of merchant
and supply ships, resulting in American civilian and military
casualties, thus violating American neutrality; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-six million men of the 54 million men in the
United States were either registered for the draft or in
service; and
WHEREAS, The need to quickly build the strength of the
military resulted in a total of 4.8 million men serving during
the conflict, during which individuals of all races, ethnicities
and creeds came together to forge a new American identity; and
WHEREAS, World War I forever changed the course of warfare
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due to the development of new technologies, including aviation,
tanks, anti-aircraft artillery, motor transport, aircraft
carriers, chemical weapons, submarines and anti-submarine
warfare, underwater mines and sonar; and
WHEREAS, The American Expeditionary Forces fought in 13
distinct campaigns during World War I and suffered 244,000
casualties, more than 36,000 of those being Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians alone purchased more than $3 billion
for the war effort through the sale of Victory and Liberty
Bonds, and produced more than half of the steel used by the
Allies during the war; and
WHEREAS, Nineteen months and five days following the entry of
the United States into the war, Germany signed an armistice
agreement on November 11, 1918; and
WHEREAS, World War I claimed the lives of more than 5 million
Allied soldiers, with nearly 13 million wounded; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the cessation of hostilities of World War I, and recognize
and honor the historical significance and valorous service and
sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate honor the memory of those members
of the United States Armed Forces who fell in the course of
service to the United States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate commend the United States Armed
Forces for their gallant service during World War I, recognizing
the contribution their actions made to preserve and protect the
interests of the United States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate call upon all residents of this
Commonwealth to join in the commemoration of the centennial of
the end of World War I, be they at home or overseas.
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