A concurrent resolution honoring the 129 sailors and civilians lost aboard the U.S.S. Thresher on April 10, 1963, and urging the Secretary of the Army to erect a memorial to this tragedy in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. President, last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. Res. 102, a resolution I introduced that pays tribute to the 129 officers, sailors and civilians who tragically lost their lives aboard the nuclear submarine, U.S.S. Thresher.

Today, on the 40th anniversary of the loss of the Thresher, I once again join with Senators Gregg, Snowe and Collins to introduce legislation which calls on the Secretary of the Army to erect a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the crew who were lost on the Thresher as well as other nuclear submariners lost at sea. Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jeb Bradley.

As I stated last week, the U.S.S. Thresher was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and commissioned in August of 1961 as the lead vessel in a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines. After putting to sea, she was subjected to more than a year of tests along the eastern coast of the United States. In late 1962, the Thresher returned to New England for an overhaul where she remained until the spring of 1963.

On April 9, 1963, the Thresher departed the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to conduct deep-diving exercises some 200 miles off the coast of New England. In the morning hours of April 10, 1963, after reaching her assigned depth, the U.S.S. Thresher, signaled her companion surface ship, the U.S.S. Skylark, that it was experiencing difficulties. Shortly thereafter, the crew of the Skylark realized that something had gone wrong as they heard the sound of the Thresher breaking apart.

The inquiry following the loss of the Thresher identified the probable cause of the accident as a failure in the piping which led to a subsequent loss of power and ultimately an inability to blow the ballast tanks which would have allowed the Thresher to rise. As a result of the inquiry, the Navy initiated key changes aimed at ensuring the safety of future submarines, and by extension, their crews. The safety of today's modern submarine fleet is a direct result of the lessons learned following the loss of the Thresher.

Those who have served aboard America's submarine fleet over the years have genuine appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifice made by the crew of the Thresher. While modern submariners admire and respect these heroes, their sacrifice is largely unknown to many Americans. That is why I believe a memorial on the hallowed ground of Arlington National Cemetery to the crew of the U.S.S. Thresher will allow the memory of these 129 brave individuals to be given the honor and respect they are due. In addition to paying tribute to the Thresher, the memorial would honor all nuclear submariners who have lost their lives at sea.

Mr. President, I am aware that there are space constraints at Arlington. However, the memorial we are calling for would encompass a limited area--approximately the size of two burial plots. This would allow for enough space to pay proper respect to these American heroes. The legislation we are introducing today urges the Army to locate and allocate such space.

I encourage my colleagues to join Senators Gregg, Snowe, Collins and me in honoring these individuals by supporting this measure, and I ask for its speedy consideration by the Senate.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an editorial from the April 6th edition of Dover, New Hampshire's Foster's Sunday Citizen titled ``Build a Memorial to the Thresher'' be included in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.

Build a Memorial To Honor Thresher

As the most powerful military force ever to navigate the

seas, the invincibility of today's United States Navy is the

sum of myriad successes and tragic failures throughout its

history.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has played as big a part--if

not bigger--in the Navy's evolution as any other entity. The

yard and the residents of our region can be proud of

contributions made here over more than two centuries to the

evolution of our national defense at sea.

That is why it is important for us to preserve the memory

of the USS Thresher and her crew, all of whom perished on

April 10, 1963, in the deep ocean.

The preservation of that memory was the reason why people

gathered at the shipyard on Saturday. They wanted to remember

the boat and her crew--96 sailors, 16 officers and 17

employees of the shipyard.

Besides the New Hampshire and Maine congressional

delegations, many in attendance were relatives of those who

perished and whose sacrifice resulted in monumental changes

to the way submarines after 1963 were constructed for the

U.S. Navy.

As a result, it is entirely appropriate for the delegation

to call for the construction of a memorial to the USS

Thresher and her crew at Arlington National Cemetery. Given

the magnitude of the Thresher's contributions to submarine

safety during the past 40 years, it is difficult not to

support such a project.

As a result of their sacrifice, the SubSafe program was

created. Regulations on hull integrity and pressure-related

components for submarines were strengthened. The sinking of

the Thresher has resulted in the lives of countless

submariners being saved because of safety improvement to the

vessels they worked on.

Since the Thresher, not one submarine has been lost under

similar circumstances.

The USS Thresher was the harbinger of the awesome attack

submarines we have today to protect our shores and interests

abroad. The debt we owe to the crew and civilians who

accepted--on our nation's behalf--the hazards of living and

working under water cannot be repaid.

Building a memorial to preserve their memory and

contributions is the best we are able to do.