THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PALLONE, MILLARD, BEYER, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARBIN, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HOUGHTON, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MOUL, MURPHY, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, AUGUST 16, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 16, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the United States Air Force by designating September

18, 2010, as "Air Force Day" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, On September 18, 1947, the United States Air Force

began as a separate arm of the newly created United States

Department of Defense with the swearing in of its first

secretary, Stuart Symington; and

WHEREAS, The Air Force was created as a service separate from

the United States Army and the United States Navy with the

passage of the National Security Act of 1947, reflecting the

fact that air power had been developed to a point where its

responsibilities were equal to those of land and sea power; and

WHEREAS, President Harry S. Truman signed the National

Security Act of 1947 on July 26, 1947, while flying aboard the

presidential plane, a Douglas VC-54C named Sacred Cow; and

WHEREAS, The modern Air Force began its distinguished history

with its origins in the United States Army Signal Corps during

the early years of the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, air power had truly come of age

as American military pilots bravely and effectively fought in

the skies above the European and Pacific Theaters; and

WHEREAS, The United States Air Force subsequently played a

key role in countering the Communist threat during the Cold War

era; and

WHEREAS, Today's modern Air Force proudly and successfully

performs its mission on a global scale and its highly trained

service persons use state-of-the-art technology to quickly

engage the defense and protection of America's citizens and

allies; and

WHEREAS, Members of the United States Air Force are pledged

to live by the core value of "Integrity First," which includes a

commitment to courage, honesty, responsibility, accountability,

justice, openness, self-respect and humility; and

WHEREAS, The second core value of the United States Air

Force, "Service Before Self," includes rule following, respect

for others, discipline and self-control; and

WHEREAS, The third core value of the United States Air Force,

"Excellence in All We Do," includes a commitment to excellence

in the areas of product and service, personal and professional

life, community, resources and operations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the United

States Air Force by designating September 18, 2010, as "Air

Force Day" in Pennsylvania.