PRINTER'S NO.  314

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

48

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PAYNE, SAYLOR, HESS, STERN, AUMENT, BAKER, BARRAR, BISHOP, BOYD, BRADFORD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CAUSER, CLYMER, DAY, DENLINGER, ELLIS, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MASSER, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, MUSTIO, PASHINSKI, PERRY, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOEPEL AND VULAKOVICH, FEBRUARY 1, 2011

  

  

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 1, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Honoring the life of United States Army Major Richard D.

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Winters, who died on January 2, 2011.

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WHEREAS, Although the heroism of United States Army Major

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Richard D. Winters did not receive international acclaim until

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the release of the television mini-series "Band of Brothers" in

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2001, all who knew of his valor and outstanding leadership were

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not surprised that his exploits and the exploits of the men of

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his company were chosen to be featured in this series; and

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WHEREAS, The "Band of Brothers" mini-series documented the

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story of E "Easy" Company of 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne

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Division, and their missions in Europe during World War II from

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the beginning of their training in 1942 for Operation Overlord,

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as the days involving D-Day were called, through V-J, or Victory

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over Japan, Day on August 15, 1945; and

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WHEREAS, The company parachuted behind enemy lines in the

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early hours of D-Day, on June 6, 1944, in support of Americans

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landing at Utah Beach, participated in the liberation of

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Carentan, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, again parachuted

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into action during Operation Market Garden, liberated a

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concentration camp at Dachau and were the first to enter Adolph

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Hitler's mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden; and

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WHEREAS, Easy Company's story is an exemplary tale of

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comradeship that is, in summary, a tale of ordinary men who did

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extraordinary things; and

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WHEREAS, The man in charge of Easy Company was a young

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lieutenant from Palmyra and a graduate of Franklin and Marshall

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College whose extraordinary planning, commanding and fighting on

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D-Day in Nazi-occupied Normandy, during his regiment's first

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combat operation, saved countless lives and expedited the Allies

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landing and inland advance;

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WHEREAS, With his company outnumbered by German soldiers,

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young Winters destroyed German guns at Brecourt Manor and

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secured causeways for troops coming off Utah Beach; and

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WHEREAS, Major Winters' tactics and strategy for a small-unit

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assault on German artillery have been taught in the days since

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WWII at the United States Military Academy at West Point; and

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WHEREAS, His wisdom and courage throughout the remaining days

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of the war inspired his service colleagues through example and

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effectively maneuvered his company during the campaign for the

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liberation of Europe; and

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WHEREAS, After the war, Major Winters returned to central

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Pennsylvania, married and, with his wife Ethel, raised two

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children on their farm near Fredericksburg while working in the

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agricultural feed business; and

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1

WHEREAS, Major Winters died on January 2, 2011, at the age of

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92, still exemplifying the quiet American hero who personifies

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greatness and inspires others by his understanding of courage,

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honesty, virtue and the difference between right and wrong; and

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WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is justifiably proud of this native

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son; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life of

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United States Army Major Richard D. Winters, who died on January

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2, 2011.

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