PRINTER'S NO. 1297
No. 194 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY SEMMEL, TIGUE, BASTIAN, GRUCELA, R. MILLER,
ARGALL, BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI,
BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, BOYD, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CAWLEY, CLYMER,
CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALLY, DERMODY, DeWEESE,
DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER,
FORCIER, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH,
GODSHALL, GOOD, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARPER, HASAY, HENNESSEY,
HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, JAMES, W. KELLER, LEDERER,
LEH, MAHER, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, McGILL,
McILHATTAN, McILHINNEY, MICOZZIE, S. MILLER, MUSTIO, NAILOR,
O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PISTELLA,
RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROBERTS, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY,
SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SHANER,
B. SMITH, STABACK, STERN, R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, TRUE,
TURZAI, WALKO, WANSACZ, WATSON, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, ZUG AND
KAUFFMAN, MARCH 29, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 29, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Honoring the World War II veterans held captive in the German
2 prisoner of war camp Stalag XVIIB who were forced by the
3 German military to endure a long, grueling march through
4 Austrian territory.
5 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives commends all World War
6 II veterans and particularly those veterans who miraculously
7 overcame the harsh environment of Stalag XVIIB and survived an
8 extremely difficult march through rugged Austrian terrain; and
9 WHEREAS, This year marks the 60th anniversary of the march,
10 which began on April 8, 1945, at Stalag XVIIB a few miles
11 northwest of Krems, Austria, and concluded at Braunau, Austria;
1 and
2 WHEREAS, The men imprisoned in Stalag XVIIB were subjected to
3 severe overcrowding, insufficient water and food supplies,
4 inadequate housing and abusive treatment from the German guards;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Upon news of approaching Russian forces, more than
7 4,000 prisoners of war were forced to endure an 18-day, 281-mile
8 march to the German prisoner of war camp in Braunau, Austria;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, Men determined to be too sick or weak to participate
11 in the march were ordered to be left behind; and
12 WHEREAS, In May 1945 the prisoners of war were liberated from
13 German forces; and
14 WHEREAS, It is important to honor these former prisoners of
15 war for their undying love for our nation and their sacrifices,
16 loyalty to their fellow prisoners of war and unquestionable
17 determination and resourcefulness; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the United
19 States military veterans held captive in the German prisoner of
20 war camp Stalag XVIIB who were forced to march to Braunau,
21 Austria, for their brave and selfless actions during World War
22 II and urge all citizens to remember the contributions and
23 sacrifices of these men who placed their lives in harm's way to
24 preserve freedom and democracy around the world.
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