AWARDS

2002 United States Congress
Concurrent Resolution 465

From the Congressional Record 

RECOGNIZING, APPLAUDING AND SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE 

ARMY AVIATION HERITAGE FOUNDATION 

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 465) recognizing, applauding, and supporting the efforts of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Georgia, to utilize veteran aviators of the Armed Forces and former Army Aviation aircraft to inspire Americans and to ensure that our Nation's military legacy and heritage of service are never forgotten, as amended. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

H. Con. Res. 465 

Whereas the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Georgia in 1997, is an all volunteer organization composed of veterans, their families, and civilian supporters acting in concert to connect the American soldier to the American public through the use of the story of Army Aviation; 

Whereas the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation is not a part of the United States Army and receives no Federal funding; 

Whereas funds for the activities of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation come entirely from donations made by private individuals and corporations; 

Whereas Army Aviation Heritage Foundation volunteers devote a significant amount of their personal time and resources to present the story of our Nation's Armed Forces and the legacy of its veterans to the American people through extensive and elaborate living history programs presented at major public venues, such as air show events, and at numerous other smaller community outreach initiatives; 

Whereas these living history programs are designed and presented to honor the Armed Forces and its veterans while inspiring the public that ultimately supports the Armed Forces and giving the public a glimpse of military life, service, and devotion; 

Whereas the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation has devoted over 150,000 volunteer hours and over $5,300,000 in donated funds, aircraft, and equipment in organizing, developing, and conducting 35 public presentations that have helped to foster patriotism and present our Nation's military stories to an audience of more than 5,500,000 people; and 

Whereas the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation is acting to provide America's veterans a voice with which to tell their story and the tools with which to share with the American public their legacy of service and devotion: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress recognizes, applauds, and supports the efforts of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Georgia, to pursue the following four primary purposes: 

(1) To educate the American public regarding the military heritage of the United States through the story of United States Army Aviation's soldiers and machines. 

(2) To connect the American serviceman and servicewoman to the American public as an active and admired member of the American family. 

(3) To inspire patriotism and motivate Americans everywhere toward service to their community and country by involving them in our Nation's larger military legacy. 

(4) To preserve authentic examples of Army aviation aircraft and utilize them in educational living history demonstrations and presentations so that the symbols of America's military legacy may always remain in our skies for future generations. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).

 General Leave 

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 465.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? 

There was no objection. 

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 

The United States military that fought with such skill and courage during the Persian Gulf War, the Balkan War and now in our deadly conflict with terrorism was and is an all-volunteer force. Our Nation can be immensely proud that we have created a military that is second to none in the world and that we have done it by attracting the best and the brightest to serve voluntarily. 

While we are rightfully proud of the success of the all-volunteer force, there is, unfortunately, a downside. Since far fewer people are recruited to serve in a voluntary military, the connection between America and its military is increasingly tenuous and less personal. If the gulf in understanding between the military and the American people should become too pronounced, our national security decision process could be affected and made prone to miscalculations. 

House Concurrent Resolution 465 offers a solution for this problem. By recognizing, applauding and supporting the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, the Congress can take action to close the gulf between the American people and the military. 

Mr. Speaker, this organization brings to life for people across the country a view of the military that so many have not experienced personally. In short, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation educates the public on the history of military aviation and connects servicemen and servicewomen to the American family. 

This type of education promotes understanding of and confidence in the military and yields a level of patriotism that is essential in our effort to battle terrorism around the globe. 

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) for sponsoring this resolution and for working with all of us to ensure that this moment on the floor to make these worthy remarks and very, very important offering to our colleagues actually occurred. 

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. 

Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 465 introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins). 

It has already been noted that the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation performs a valuable role in educating the American public on military affairs and making the vital connection between the men and women who serve our Nation in uniform and the people they defend. That alone is a noble endeavor. We all understand that a Nation can only take pride in the past when the citizenry understands the challenges and sacrifices of those who passed this way before. To that end, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation brings history to life for the citizenry. 

Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight another aspect of the significant contributions of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, their contribution to the service members and their families. Earlier this year, the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation was selected as the Army's nominee to the Department of Defense Multi-department Selection Panel for the 2001 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Citizen Humanitarian Award. This distinguished award recognizes efforts to improve the quality of life for members of the Armed Forces and their families. 

In a letter of appreciation to the Foundation, Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Thomas E. White, offered the following commentary: ``The Foundation's dedication, patriotism, and numerous contributions have left a lasting imprint on the quality of life for the service members and their families.'' 

I urge my colleagues to join in passing this resolution. 

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. 

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins). (Mr. COLLINS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution recognizing the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation. 

Based in Hampton, Georgia, it is a nonprofit organization to display military aircraft from World War II, the Korean conflict, as well as Vietnam. There are no U.S. taxpayer dollars that go into this program. It is all, as I say, volunteer and civilians and veterans who have pooled their funds and support this organization just to have a living history of an Army aviation to display in different air shows around the country. 

They were founded in 1997. Since then, they have devoted over 150,000 volunteer hours and $5.3 million in donated funds and aircraft and equipment, and they actually participated in 35 air shows, viewed by some 5&1/2 million people. 

They have four primary purposes, Mr. Speaker. One is to educate the American public to their military heritage through the story of the U.S. Army Aviation's soldiers and machines; two, to connect the American soldier to the American people as an active, accepted and admired member of the American family; to inspire patriotism and motivate Americans everywhere towards service to the community and country by involving them in our Nation's larger military legacy; and to preserve the authentic examples of Army aircraft and utilize them in educational living history demonstrations and presentations so that the symbols of America's military legacy may always remain in the skies for future generations. 

I appreciate the gentleman from the Committee on Armed Services working with me on this and also the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for his participation and urge that it be adopted. 

Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, with a final word of praise and appreciation to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) and an urging of all of our colleagues to join us in supporting this resolution, I yield back my time. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Otter). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 465, as amended. 

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.