NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY- AUGUST
16, 2008
WHEREAS, the
Parachute Test Platoon was authorized by the War Department on June 25,
1940 to
experiment
with the potential use of airborne troops; and
WHEREAS, the
Parachute Test Platoon, composed of 48 volunteers, began training in
July 1940 and performed the first official Army parachute jump on August
16, 1940; and
WHEREAS, the
success of the Parachute Test Platoon led to the formation of a large
and successful airborne contingent serving in World War II to the
present; and
WHEREAS, the
82nd
Airborne Division was the fIrst Airborne Division organized out of the
success of
the Parachute
Test Platoon and the early airborne training program has continued in
active service since its creation; and
WHEREAS, the
82nd
Airborne Division Association exists in part to perpetrate the memory of
those
82nd
Airborne
Division Troopers who fought and died for our nation; and
WHEREAS, the
United States Senate passed the National Airborne Day Resolution on July
6, 2004; and
WHEREAS, Grand
Island, NY is the birthplace and fInal resting place of Pfc. Charles N.
DeGlopper (MOH), posthumously awarded the Nation's Highest Award -
Congressional Medal of Honor - for his actions above and beyond the call
of duty while serving as a member of Company "C" First Battalion,
3251h
Glider Infantry Regiment,
82nd
Airborne Division, at La Fiere, France on June 9, 1944; and
WHEREAS, Grand
Island is the birthplace and final resting place of Lt. Co!. Terrance K.
Crowe, trained Airborne Trooper serving with the
98th
Division and killed by hostile fire while part of offensive
operations in
Tal Afar, Iraq on June 7,2005;
NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Grand Island does
hereby proclaim August 16, 2008
NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY
in the Town of
Grand Island and encourages its citizens to observe and commemorate this
historic event.
Proclaimed at the 14th Town Board Meeting
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