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PRINTER'S NO. 1766
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
326
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MAKO, HILL-EVANS, HAHN, KORTZ, SCHLOSSBERG,
ROTHMAN, COX, RYAN, WILLIAMS, BIZZARRO, CALTAGIRONE, MALONEY,
MATZIE, KULIK, METZGAR, FREEMAN, JAMES, BURNS, LONGIETTI,
TOEPEL, DiGIROLAMO, T. DAVIS, O'MARA, MERSKI, BROWN, SONNEY,
MILLARD, PICKETT, KINSEY, MEHAFFIE, EMRICK, PASHINSKI,
F. KELLER, OBERLANDER, ROZZI, GOODMAN, McNEILL, OWLETT,
MACKENZIE, HICKERNELL, BERNSTINE, READSHAW, SOLOMON, PYLE,
EVERETT, MOUL, MENTZER, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHLEGEL CULVER, GROVE,
ZIMMERMAN, CIRESI, B. MILLER, MARKOSEK, SAINATO AND SAYLOR,
MAY 8, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 8, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating May 23, 2019, as "National Guard Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 1747, Benjamin Franklin organized the Associators
of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Units of today's Pennsylvania National Guard trace
their lineage to the first Associators; and
WHEREAS, In 1755, the General Assembly of the Province of
Pennsylvania received a great number of petitions from the
several counties of the province "setting forth, That the
Petitioners were very willing to defend themselves and their
Country, and desirous of being formed into regular Bodies for
that Purpose, instructed and disciplined under proper Officers,
with suitable and legal Authority"; and
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WHEREAS, Responding to these petitions, the representatives
of the Province of Pennsylvania, meeting in General Assembly,
passed this Commonwealth's first militia law on November 25,
1755; and
WHEREAS, The Militia Act, passed "for the better Ordering and
Regulating such as are willing and desirous to be united for
Military Purposes within this Province" created the volunteer
militia and laid the legal foundation for the militia and the
Pennsylvania National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Enactment of the act of November 25, 1755, marked
the beginning of more than 260 years of cooperation and support
from the General Assembly for the Pennsylvania militia, the
Pennsylvania National Guard; and the soldiers and airmen who
proudly serve this Commonwealth and this nation; and
WHEREAS, In war and in peace, Pennsylvania National Guard
soldiers and airmen have served at home and abroad and have
responded to floods, blizzards and other emergencies at home;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's National Guard force reaches from the
Joint Force Headquarters located at Fort Indiantown Gap, Lebanon
County, to nearly 90 communities across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the top 10
employers in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3,600 Pennsylvania National Guard
members serve in a full-time capacity; and
WHEREAS, The remaining 15,000 Pennsylvania National Guard
members serve as traditional part-time members who train while
pursuing civilian education or careers; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the
largest National Guard forces in the nation; and
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WHEREAS, The 28th Infantry Division is the oldest
continuously serving division in the United States Army; and
WHEREAS, The 213th Regional Support Group is the Pennsylvania
National Guard's second major army unit that handles combat
support missions, including transportation, finance and
personnel services; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is comprised of
the 111th Attack Wing for air support and MQ-9 Reaper ground
control, the 171st Air Refueling Wing for worldwide aerial
refueling and the 193rd Special Operations Wing for specialized
aerial broadcasting missions; and
WHEREAS, In time of war, national or state emergency, or in
support of any military operation worldwide, the President of
the United States may mobilize units of the National Guard into
active Federal service; and
WHEREAS, The active Federal service of the Pennsylvania
National Guard has included engagement in every conflict this
nation has faced, from the Revolutionary War through Operation
Enduring Freedom, and in peacekeeping missions around the globe;
and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard in peacetime offers
broad support to the civilian community through the Pennsylvania
Counterdrug Joint Task Force (CJTF); and
WHEREAS, CJTF has provided trained personnel and specialized
equipment to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in
disposing of more than 66,410 pounds of drugs with an estimated
street value of more than $37.9 million in the fight against the
use of illegal drugs; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania National Guard members serve as role
models as well as community volunteers and civic leaders
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throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard's outstanding
performance was on display in 2017 when more than 988 soldiers
and airmen provided support for hurricanes Harvey, Irma and
Maria, Winter Storm Stella and operation Erie winter storm; and
WHEREAS, In the last year, the Pennsylvania National Guard
activated roughly 1,756 troops who spent more than 5,730 days on
State active duty missions, including winter storm and hurricane
response and other domestic operations; and
WHEREAS, After more than a decade of sustained high-tempo
combat operations, the Pennsylvania National Guard continues to
fight overseas and support regional domestic missions; and
WHEREAS, With approximately 36,751 individual deployments
since September 11, 2001, the Pennsylvania National Guard is one
of the busiest and most heavily deployed National Guards in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme, "We Are Pennsylvania," pays
tribute to our citizens, soldiers and airmen of the Pennsylvania
National Guard; and
WHEREAS, We honor these men and women for their dedication
and service which has led to the distinction of Pennsylvania
having one of the most successful National Guards across our
great country; and
WHEREAS, The continued support of the General Assembly
remains critical to the success of the Pennsylvania National
Guard; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 23,
2019, as "National Guard Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the men
and women of our armed forces for their dedicated service to
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this Commonwealth and this nation and commend them for the
outstanding performance of their duties around the world, in the
Global War on Terror and in response to natural disasters; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives give thanks for
the Pennsylvania National Guard and the service of generations
of soldiers and airmen from across Pennsylvania from our days as
a proprietary colony to the great Commonwealth we are today; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor and to the Adjutant General.
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