Reps. Hammon, Accavitti, Angerer, Bauer, Bieda, Booher, Brown, Condino, Constan, Dean, Ebli, Emmons, Espinoza, Griffin, Hansen, Hopgood, Horn, Huizenga, Rick Jones, Lahti, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Meekhof, Meisner, Miller, Moss, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Simpson, Stakoe, Steil, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Valentine, Wojno, Cheeks, Green, Ball, Brandenburg, Calley, Clack, Cushingberry, Donigan, Gonzales, Robert Jones, Marleau, Meadows, Nitz, Palmer, Pastor and Rocca offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 275.

            A resolution commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

            Whereas, We honor those men and women who fought bravely for the continued freedom of the citizens in the United States of America during World War II and specifically in the month of February 1945, when members of the United States Marine Corps invaded the island of Iwo Jima with the intent to capture the strategic airfields located there; and

            Whereas, On February 19, 1945, the landing at Iwo Jima marked the first American attack on the Japanese home islands, which manifested in some of the fiercest fighting the Pacific Theater underwent; and

            Whereas, In the 233 year long history of the United States Marine Corps, there has been no other battle where the American casualties exceeded that of the enemy. Of the 70,000 Marines involved in the invasion, the Allied Forces suffered 27,909 casualties and 6,825 men and women were killed in action; and

            Whereas, Admiral Nimitz's memory of what took place at the Battle of Iwo Jima best expresses the valor and patriotism these 70,000 Marines demonstrated in the face of tenacious odds, Iwo Jima was memorialized as "…a place where uncommon valor was a common virtue…"; and

            Whereas, It is fitting that on this 63rd anniversary of the landing at Iwo Jima, we should honor all Americans and residents of the state of Michigan who served their country for their commitment to the values that all Americans hold in highest esteem; and

            Whereas, The United States, including the state of Michigan, is currently combating terrorism around the world and this effort is highly dependent on the global reach and combined presence the United States Forces depicts; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. We express our profound and everlasting gratitude to those American men and women who answered the call of duty on February 19, 1945, and to all others who served in World War II to protect America and the rest of the world against the rising tide of facism. We also support all those who continue to answer the call of duty and those who currently serve their state and nation on behalf of all American citizens.