PRINTER'S NO. 2962
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
623
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY RIGBY, McNEILL, LONGIETTI, COX, DiGIROLAMO, RYAN,
METZGAR, SCHMITT, HENNESSEY, DELLOSO, MILLARD, KORTZ,
ROTHMAN, JAMES, BERNSTINE, SAINATO, TOEPEL, READSHAW, HILL-
EVANS AND JOZWIAK, DECEMBER 2, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, DECEMBER 2, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of December 2019 as "Sgt. Michael Strank
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On November 10, 1919, Sgt. Michael Strank was born
in Jarabina, Czechoslovakia; and
WHEREAS, When he was three years of age, Sgt. Strank and his
mother immigrated to the United States to join his father, who
was a miner, and the family settled in Johnstown, Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Strank was considered a gifted student who
excelled at learning English and often acted as an interpreter
for neighbors who had doctors appointments; and
WHEREAS, Influenced by the lack of jobs and the great
depression, Sgt. Strank joined the Civilian Corps after
graduating high school and earned $30 a month; and
WHEREAS, On October 6, 1939, he enlisted in the Marine Corps
and was among the first of the troops deployed overseas after
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the attack on Pearl Harbor just two years later; and
WHEREAS, On January 26, 1942, Sgt. Strank was promoted to the
rank of Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, On February 19, 1945, Sgt. Strank led his men in an
assault on the island of Iwo Jima and four days later an
American flag was hoisted atop Mount Suribachi; and
WHEREAS, After being ordered to raise a larger flag, Sgt.
Strank chose five Marines to assist and the six men raised the
flag as photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the most iconic
image of World War II; and
WHEREAS, The photograph was quickly utilized for the 7th
national bond drive and raised more than $26 billion for the war
effort; and
WHEREAS, This photograph is the most revered by the Marine
Corp and depicts six heroes, which has helped increase
enlistment and inspired generations of military members; and
WHEREAS, The two flags flown over Mount Suribachi are two of
the most treasured items in the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico,
Virginia, and the image of the six men is immortalized as a
sculpture at the Marine Corps war memorial in Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Of the 70,000 Marines who fought the 20,000 Japanese
soldiers for 36 days on Iwo Jima, 6,800 Marines died, including
three of the flag raisers; and
WHEREAS, On March 1, 1945, just six days after raising the
flag, Sgt. Michael Strank was killed in action on Iwo Jima; and
WHEREAS, On January 13, 1949, Sgt. Strank was brought home
and reinterred in Grave 7179, section 12, at Arlington National
Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Strank's 100th birthday is the perfect time for
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those in his hometown and beyond to reflect on the life of this
young man and the supreme sacrifice he made defending his
country, think about the thousands of men and women from this
region who have served their country, meditate on what it means
to be an American and a patriot and tell others the stories of
our hometown heroes who all too often disappear from memory;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of December 2019 as "Sgt. Michael Strank Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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