Congressional Record text follows. HONORING THOSE LOST ABOARD
(Senate - June 07, 2000) [Page: S4718] Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 318, submitted earlier by Senator Snowe, for herself and others. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 318) honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the USS THRESHER on April 10, 1963, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution. Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and finally, any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 318) was agreed to. The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows: S. Res. 318 Whereas this is the 100th year of service to the people of the United States by the United States Navy submarine force, the `Silent Service'; Whereas this is the 200th year of service to the Nation of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Whereas Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launched the first Navy built submarine, the L-8, on April 23, 1917; Whereas 52 years and 133 submarines later, on November 11, 1969, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard launched the last submarine built by the Navy, the USS SAND LANCE; Whereas the USS THRESHER was launched at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on July 9, 1960; Whereas the USS THRESHER departed Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on April 9, 1963, with a crew of 129 composed of 16 officers, 96 sailors, and 17 civilians; Whereas the mix of that crew reflects the unity of the naval submarine service, military and civilian, in the protection of the Nation; Whereas at approximately 7:45 a.m. on April 10, 1963, at a location near 41.46 degrees North latitude and 65.03 degrees West longitude, the USS THRESHER began her final mission; Whereas the USS THRESHER was declared lost with all hands on April 10, 1963; Whereas from the loss of that submarine, there arose the SUBSAFE program which has kept America's submariners safe at sea ever since as the strongest, safest submarine force in history; Whereas from the loss of the USS THRESHER, there arose in our Nation's universities the ocean engineering curricula that enables America's preeminence in submarine warfare; and Whereas the `last full measure of devotion' shown by the crew of the USS THRESHER characterizes the sacrifice of all submariners, past and present, military and civilian, in the service of this Nation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- 1.remembers with profound sorrow the loss of the USS THRESHER and her gallant crew of sailors and civilians on April 10, 1963; 2.expresses its deepest gratitude to all submariners on `eternal patrol,' forever bound together by their dedicated and honorable service to the United States of America; 3.recognizes with appreciation and respect the commitment and sacrifices made by the Naval Submarine Service for the past 100 years in providing for the common defense of the United States; and 4.offers its admiration and gratitude for the workers of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard whose 200 years of dedicated service to the United States Navy has contributed directly to the greatness and freedom of the United States. SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF RESOLUTION. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit this resolution to the Chief of Naval Operations and to the Commanding Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard who shall accept this resolution on behalf of the families and shipmates of the crew of the USS THRESHER. END June, 2000 |