PRINTER'S NO. 1548
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
286
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY GABLER, MAKO, MICCARELLI, BARBIN, BIZZARRO,
R. BROWN, V. BROWN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CHARLTON,
CORBIN, COX, DiGIROLAMO, DRISCOLL, DUSH, ENGLISH, EVERETT,
FREEMAN, HAHN, A. HARRIS, HENNESSEY, PHILLIPS-HILL, JAMES,
KAUFFMAN, KAVULICH, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MALONEY,
MARSICO, MATZIE, MEHAFFIE, MILLARD, B. MILLER, MILNE, MURT,
PASHINSKI, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, RAPP, READSHAW, RYAN, SAINATO,
SANKEY, SCHLOSSBERG, SOLOMON, SONNEY, STURLA, TOOHIL, WARD
AND WATSON, APRIL 25, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 25, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating April 26, 2017, as "National Guard Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 1747, Benjamin Franklin organized the Associators
of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Units of today's Pennsylvania National Guard trace
their lineage to the first Associators; and
WHEREAS, In 1755, the General Assembly of the Province of
Pennsylvania received a great number of petitions from the
several counties of the province "setting forth, That the
Petitioners were very willing to defend themselves and their
Country, and desirous of being formed into regular Bodies for
that Purpose, instructed and disciplined under proper Officers,
with suitable and legal authority"; and
WHEREAS, Responding to these petitions, the representatives
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
of the Province of Pennsylvania, meeting in General Assembly,
passed this Commonwealth's first militia law on November 25,
1755; and
WHEREAS, The Militia Act, passed "for the better Ordering and
Regulating such as are willing and desirous to be united for
Military Purposes within this Province" created the volunteer
militia and laid the legal foundation for the militia and the
Pennsylvania National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Enactment of the act of November 25, 1755, marked
the beginning of more than 260 years of cooperation and support
from the General Assembly for the Pennsylvania militia, the
Pennsylvania National Guard and the soldiers and airmen who
proudly serve this Commonwealth and this nation; and
WHEREAS, In war and in peace, Pennsylvania National Guard
soldiers and airmen have served at home and abroad and have
responded to floods, blizzards and other emergencies at home;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's National Guard force reaches from the
Joint Force Headquarters located at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon
County, to nearly 90 communities across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the top 10
employers in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3,600 Pennsylvania National Guard
members serve in a full-time capacity; and
WHEREAS, The remaining 16,400 Pennsylvania National Guard
members serve as traditional part-time members who train while
pursuing civilian education or careers; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the
largest National Guard forces in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The 28th Infantry Division is the oldest
20170HR0286PN1548 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
continuously serving division in the United States Army; and
WHEREAS, The 213th Regional Support Group is the Pennsylvania
National Guard's second major army unit that handles combat
support missions, including transportation, finance and
personnel services; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is comprised of
the 111th Attack Wing for air support and MQ-9 Reaper ground
control, the 171st Air Refueling Wing for worldwide aerial
refueling and the 193rd Special Operations Wing for specialized
aerial broadcasting missions; and
WHEREAS, In time of war, national or state emergency, or in
support of any military operation worldwide, the President of
the United States may mobilize units of the National Guard into
active Federal service; and
WHEREAS, The active Federal service of the Pennsylvania
National Guard has included engagement in every conflict this
nation has faced, from the Revolutionary War through Operation
Enduring Freedom, and in peacekeeping missions around the globe;
and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard in peacetime offers
broad support to the civilian community through the Pennsylvania
Counterdrug Joint Task Force (CJTF); and
WHEREAS, CJTF has provided trained personnel and specialized
equipment to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in
disposing of more than 45,296 pounds of drugs with an estimated
street value of more than $22.6 million in the fight against the
use of illegal drugs; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania National Guard members serve as role
models as well as community volunteers and civic leaders
throughout this Commonwealth; and
20170HR0286PN1548 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard's outstanding
performance was on display in 2015 when more than 6,000 soldiers
and airmen provided support for Pope Francis' visit to the City
of Philadelphia, the largest National Special Security Event in
United States history; and
WHEREAS, In the last five years, the Pennsylvania National
Guard activated roughly 13,200 troops who spent more than 53,597
days on State active duty missions, including winter storm and
hurricane response and other domestic operations; and
WHEREAS, After more than a decade of sustained high-tempo
combat operations, the Pennsylvania National Guard continues to
fight overseas and support regional domestic missions; and
WHEREAS, With approximately 36,000 individual deployments
since September 11, 2001, the Pennsylvania National Guard is one
of the busiest and most heavily deployed National Guards in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, The continued support of the General Assembly
remains critical to the success of the Pennsylvania National
Guard; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
26, 2017, as "National Guard Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the men
and women of our armed forces for their dedicated service to
this Commonwealth and this nation and commend them for the
outstanding performance of their duties around the world, in the
Global War on Terror and in response to natural disasters; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives give thanks for
the Pennsylvania National Guard and the service of generations
20170HR0286PN1548 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
of soldiers and airmen from across Pennsylvania from our days as
a proprietary colony to the great Commonwealth we are today; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor and to the Adjutant General.
20170HR0286PN1548 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5