Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 33–Assemblymen Bache, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams
Joint Sponsors: Senators Shaffer, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener
Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Designating May 20 through May 26, 2001, as U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Navy Armed Guard Remembrance Week.
Whereas, The U.S. Merchant Marine has faithfully served our country
in times of war and peace, transporting troops, weaponry, supplies and
equipment to every corner of the world; and
Whereas, The Merchant Marine has helped win wars and maintain
peace by providing necessary materials, food and supplies to assist many
other nations in rebuilding their countries and economies; and
Whereas, During World War II, the Merchant Marine transported
troops and delivered 75 percent of all military equipment and supplies to
battle fronts throughout the world in the face of attacks by the enemy and
violent seas, without the benefit of sonar equipment to enable them to
detect the enemy; and
Whereas, Of the relatively small volunteer force of about 250,000
during World War II, at least 8,651 Merchant Mariners were killed at sea,
over 11,000 were wounded with 1,100 dying from wounds, and 604 were
taken as prisoners of war of whom 61 died in POW camps; and
Whereas, For their heroic efforts during World War II, President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt recognized the Merchant Mariners as an
essential part of the history of the country’s sea power and said the
Mariners “have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have
delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations
and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job
ever undertaken. As time goes on, there will be greater public
understanding of our merchant’s fleet record during this war”; and
Whereas, The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was established to protect the
Merchant Marine ships from enemy ships, aircraft and submarines by
providing gunnery protection and communication services; and
Whereas, Many of the members of the Navy Armed Guard had never
seen the ocean before being assigned to a Merchant Marine ship, yet they
served side-by-side with the Mariners under difficult and extremely
dangerous circumstances, often without a doctor on board the ship; and
Whereas, The U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy Armed Guard
worked as a team to provide a vital link between our fighting forces
overseas and the home front, each suffering one of the highest ratios of
death among the armed services in World War II, with many being lost at
sea, their fates unknown; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate
Concurring, That the Legislature does hereby designate May 20 through
May 26, 2001, as U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Navy Armed Guard
Remembrance Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all Nevadans to join in this
observance, to coincide with National Maritime Day on May 22; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit
a copy of this resolution to Bill Erin, Secretary of the Las Vegas Chapter of
the American Merchant Marine Veterans, for appropriate distribution to all
Nevada media and interested organizations.
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