PRINTER'S NO. 371
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
69
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, BARBIN, GOODMAN, BARRAR, ENGLISH, MAHER,
HARPER, PAYNE, BENNINGHOFF, DUSH, SACCONE, KIRKLAND, COX,
DONATUCCI, CUTLER, QUIGLEY, COHEN, MATZIE, V. BROWN,
WHEELAND, KINSEY, BOBACK, KOTIK, KILLION, VEREB, HICKERNELL,
SONNEY, SCHLOSSBERG, DiGIROLAMO, KAUFFMAN, SCHWEYER, KIM,
LONGIETTI, KORTZ, FRANKEL, DAVIS, MARSHALL, GRELL, FREEMAN,
FARINA, BAKER, TALLMAN, MILLARD, W. KELLER, GROVE, D. COSTA,
HAHN, MAJOR, DeLUCA, HEFFLEY, KNOWLES, DRISCOLL, C. PARKER,
METZGAR, A. HARRIS, MAHONEY, HARHAI, PICKETT, GABLER, WATSON,
GIBBONS, O'NEILL, THOMAS, OBERLANDER, ELLIS, GINGRICH,
SABATINA, MURT, ROZZI AND QUINN, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 9, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating February 19, 2015, as "The Battle of Iwo Jima
Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania and recognizing the heroic
contributions of Sergeant Michael Strank from Johnstown and
the five other service members who raised the United States
flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
WHEREAS, The Battle of Iwo Jima, which took place 70 years
ago and is recognized as the turning point of the Pacific War,
claimed one-third of all Marines killed in World War II and
resulted in the most casualties in Marine Corps history; and
WHEREAS, The 36-day assault from February 19 to March 26,
1945, claimed the lives of 6,821 American troops and wounded
19,217 American troops, and two soldiers were taken into
captivity; and
WHEREAS, The Japanese on the island lost 18,844 of their
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
22,060 soldiers in the fighting or by ritual suicide, an
additional 216 soldiers were captured and approximately 300
soldiers were hidden in caves and tunnels for days; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Iwo Jima still looms large in our
history by its complexity, ferocity and character of its
combatants; and
WHEREAS, On February 23, 1945, five Marines, Sgt. Michael
Strank, Cpl. Harlon Block, Pfc. Franklin Sousley, Pfc. Ira Hayes
and Cpl. Rene Gagnon, and one Navy Hospital Corpsman, PhM2. John
Bradley, were immortalized in a photograph by Joe Rosenthal
raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi; and
WHEREAS, The photograph has since become the most recognized
symbol of sacrifice and American resolve; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Strank, hailing from Johnstown, safely directed
the group to the top of the mount and instructed the group to
raise the United States flag so that "every Marine on this
cruddy island can see it"; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Strank's right hand is the only hand of any of
the group not on the pole as his right hand was around the wrist
of Pfc. Sousley, helping the younger man push the heavy pole;
and
WHEREAS, Shortly after the immortalized photograph was taken,
Sgt. Strank, Cpl. Block and Pfc. Sousley died in battle on Iwo
Jima; and
WHEREAS, Gen. James L. Jones, 32nd Commandant of the Marine
Corps, said, "the valor and sacrifice of the Marines and Sailors
who fought on Iwo Jima is, today and forever, the standard by
which we judge what we are and what we might become"; and
WHEREAS, On February 21, 2015, in Johnstown, Sgt. Strank and
the five other service members that raised the United States
20150HR0069PN0371 - 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
flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima will be honored in the
documentary "Our Flag Still Waives: The Sergeant Michael Strank
Project"; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting that the symbolism of the solidarity
of the United States flag-raising on Iwo Jima be recognized for
its significance in our history; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
February 19, 2015, as "The Battle of Iwo Jima Remembrance Day"
in Pennsylvania and recognize the heroic contributions of
Sergeant Michael Strank from Johnstown and the five other
service members who raised the United States flag during the
Battle of Iwo Jima.
20150HR0069PN0371 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12