Shenango Valley News

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Thursday, May 23, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Michael Guest (R-MS) introduced a resolution in honor of Memorial Day. The resolution states that the House of Representatives “calls on the people of the United States to observe Memorial Day as a special day of remembrance to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.”

"Memorial Day provides Americans the opportunity to honor and remember the nearly 1.5 million men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation," Rep. Kelly said. "We live in the land of the free because of the brave. We should honor those who gave their lives not just this weekend, but every day."

“We can never repay the debt we owe the men and women who gave their lives for our great nation, but we can remain committed to the values they fought and died for – values such as hard work, determination, and truth,” stated Rep. Guest. “We must always remember that we are blessed to be citizens of this great republic, to live in a nation that was divinely inspired, and to call this land our home.”

Memorial Day has its origins in Mississippi and other locations across the United States. In 1866, four women brought flowers to Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi, decorating graves of those fallen in the Battle of Shiloh—both Union and Confederate soldiers. This act grew into an entire day dedicated to memorializing those who have died fighting for freedom from the American War for Independence to modern-day conflicts.

The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by over 70 Members of Congress at its introduction:

Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Randy K. Weber (TX-14), Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Rep. John R. Carter (TX-31), Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28), Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07), Rep. Mike Ezell (MS-04), Rep. Stephanie I Bice (OK-05), Rep Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Rep Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Rep Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Rep Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Rep Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Rep David J Trone (MD-06), Rep Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Rep Neal P Dunn (FL-02), Rep Charles J “Chuck” Fleischmann(TN -03) ,Rep James R Baird(IN -04) ,Rep Chuck Edwards(NC -11) ,Rep Cory Mills(FL -07) ,Rep Wesley Hunt(TX -38) ,Rep Andy Biggs(AZ -05) ,Rep Thomas H Kean(NJ -07) ,Rep John R Moolenaar(MI -02) ,Rep Zachary Nunn(IA -03) ,Rep Jake LaTurner(KS -02 ) ,Rep Richard McCormick(GA -06 ) ,Rep Sharice Davids(KS -03 ) ,Rep Rick W Allen(GA -12 ) ,Rep Robert E Latta(OH -05 ),Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi(IL -08 ),rep Pete Stauber(MN 08 ),rep Daniel Webster(FL 11 ),rep Tracey Mann(KS 01 ),rep Lisa C McClain(MI 09 ),rep Nancy Mace(SC 01 ),rep Michael Waltz(FL 06 ), rep Austin Scott(GA08 ) rep Max L Miller(OH07 ) rep David Kustoff(TN08 ) rep William R Timmons(SC04 ) rep Troy Balderson(OH12 ) rep Barry Moore(AL02 ) rep Thomas P Tiffany(WI07 ) rep John H Rutherford(FL05 ) rep Mike Garcia(CA27 ) rep Michelle Fischbach(MN07 ) rep Josh Harder(CA09 )rep Brittany Pettersen(CO07 ),rep Nicholas A Langworthy(NY23 ),rep Ralph Norman(SC05 ),rep Ashley Hinson(IA02 ). Reps Jim Costa(CA21 ). Debbie Lesko(AZ08 ). Julia Letlow(LA05 ). Michael T McCaul(TX10 ). August Pfluger(TX11). Don Bacon(NE02). Mike Kelly(PA16). Michael C Burgess(TX26). Cathy McMorris Rodgers(WA05). Trent Kelly(MS01). Andrew S Clyde(GA09). Carol D Miller(WV01). Brandon Williams(NY22). Andy Harris(MD01). Anthony D’Esposito(NY04). Andrew R Garbarino(NY02). Donald G Davis(NC01). Vern Buchanan(FL18). Daniel Meuser(PA09).