[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 433 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
2d Session
S. RES. 433
Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose
tireless work, dedication, and selfless service to the United States
have led to more than 1 million lives saved over the course of its long
and storied 217-year history.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 29, 2008
Mr. Stevens (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose
tireless work, dedication, and selfless service to the United States
have led to more than 1 million lives saved over the course of its long
and storied 217-year history.
Whereas, since 1867, the United States Coast Guard has been a vital
piece of Alaskan history, providing lifesaving medical
treatment to native villages along its coasts, protecting
its fisheries resources, and courageously rescuing those
who face peril on the seas;
Whereas, in 2007, the men and women of the United States Coast
Guard stationed in Alaska valiantly responded to 696 calls
for assistance and saved the lives of 463 mariners in
distress;
Whereas the actions of Petty Officer Willard L. Milam personify the
proud history of courage and public service of the United
States Coast Guard on the 10th of February, 2007, when, on
a pitch-black winter morning, Petty Officer Milam launched
aboard a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter in near-zero
visibility to locate the source of a distress signal
approximately 50 miles southwest in Makushin Bay, Alaska;
Whereas Petty Officer Milam bravely deployed into storm tossed, 40-
degree seas and swam to a life raft to find four survivors
hypothermic and soaked in unprotected clothing;
Whereas Petty Officer Milam heroically overcame exhaustion and
hypothermia to pull each survivor from a life raft and
assist them through the raging seas, placing them into a
rescue basket to be hoisted into the rescue helicopter;
Whereas Petty Officer Milam's courageous rescue off the coast of
Alaska has earned him the 2007 Coast Guard Foundation Award
for Heroism and the 2007 Captain Frank Erickson Aviation
Rescue Award; and
Whereas, through extraordinary teamwork, airmanship, and courage,
the crew of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter saved four
lives from the treacherous Bearing Sea: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the heroic accomplishments of Petty Officer
Willard Milam, who represented the finest traditions of the
United States Coast Guard during the dramatic rescue of four
survivors from the treacherous Bering Sea;
(2) honors the United States Coast Guard, America's
lifesavers and guardians of the sea, for its unflinching
determination and proud 217-year history of maritime search and
rescue resulting in over 1 million lives saved; and
(3) recognizes the tireless work, dedication, and
commitment of Coast Guard men and women, many of them stationed
in Alaska, far away from family and friends, who commit
themselves every day to executing this noble mission hundreds
of miles from our shores with honor, respect, and devotion to
duty.
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