68th Legislature 2023 SJ 17.1
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17
2 INTRODUCED BY M. FOX
3
4 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
5 MONTANA RECOGNIZING MONTANANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THE
6 MILITARY AND DECLARING 2023-2025 AS THE ERA OF RECOGNITION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE
7 MONTANA NATIONAL GUARD, U.S. ARMY RESERVE, U.S. NAVY RESERVE, AND ALL ACTIVE DUTY
8 MILITARY PERSONNEL.
9
10 WHEREAS, on July 14, 1867, Montana Territorial Governor Green Clay Smith issued General Order
11 No. 1 in Virginia City, officially authorizing the organization of Montana volunteer forces and formally naming
12 them the First Regiment of Montana Volunteers; and
13 WHEREAS, in 1885, U.S. House Bill No. 20 passed, authorizing the organization of a national guard for
14 the territory, and the 1st Montana Infantry Regiment, National Guard, mustered its first company in Virginia City;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, the need for a state militia was recognized, and accordingly, the 1st Montana Infantry
17 Regiment was reorganized as the Montana National Guard under the Territorial Legislative Act entitled "An Act
18 to Organize and Regulate the Militia, Approved March 10, 1887"; and
19 WHEREAS, on May 2, 1898, the 1st Montana Infantry Regiment volunteered as United States
20 volunteers, and under the command of Colonel Harry C. Kessler, the regiment served in the Spanish-American
21 War and subsequently in the Philippine Insurrection in 1898-1899, in which it participated in seven major battles
22 as part of the overall command of Major General Arthur MacArthur; and
23 WHEREAS, the 2nd Montana Infantry Regiment, as successor to the 1st Montana Infantry Regiment,
24 participated in the Mexican Border Conflict in 1916, and under the command of Colonel "Dynamite" Dan J.
25 Donohue, its mission was to protect border towns and U.S. holdings along the Arizona border; and
26 WHEREAS, on August 5, 1917, the 2nd Montana Infantry Regiment was redesignated as the 163rd
27 Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, and went on to fight in World War I along with many fellow Montanans
28 who volunteered or were conscripted to serve, and according to Joseph Kinsey Howard, "In World War I, more
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68th Legislature 2023 SJ 17.1
1 Montana boys marched away in proportion to population than any other state and more than any other state,
2 proportionately, would never march anywhere again . . . ."; and
3 WHEREAS, the 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, responded to the call of 1 year of duty
4 on September 16, 1940, which turned into 5 years of military service during World War II; and
5 WHEREAS, the Montana National Guard on its return from World War II was reconstituted in 1946 as
6 the 163rd Infantry Regimental Combat Team, Montana Army National Guard; and
7 WHEREAS, the Montana Air National Guard came into being on June 27, 1947, some 76 years ago
8 when the 186th Fighter Squadron was formed, and the 186th Fighter Squadron later transformed into the 120th
9 Fighter Wing; and
10 WHEREAS, Montana men and women have proudly served the nation and state in the Korean War
11 (the Unknown War), the Vietnam War, and part of the Cold War period from 1945 to 1991; and
12 WHEREAS, in 1991, the Montana Army National Guard served the nation as represented by the 103rd
13 Public Affairs Detachment in Southwest Asia during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, along with members of the
14 Montana Air National Guard and over 3,000 Montanan volunteers serving in the active and reserve
15 components; and
16 WHEREAS, the Montana Army and Air National Guard, composed of men and women throughout
17 Montana, stepped forward by serving their community, state, nation, and world to support peacekeeping
18 missions, security operations, and natural disaster responses; and
19 WHEREAS, it is fully recognized that these required mobilizations and deployments of Montana Army
20 and Air National Guard members include adverse effects on families, work, and communities due to the
21 temporary loss of the service members, including social and financial costs; and
22 WHEREAS, the fine tradition of service to Montana and the United States is ably demonstrated by the
23 nearly quarter of a million Montana veterans who have participated in all branches of the service during the past
24 156 years, and as current military and new veterans they continue to contribute their strength to Montana by
25 providing leadership in business, government, and industry and continue to add value to Montana; and
26 WHEREAS, it is our duty and responsibility to support them, remember them, and help them in time of
27 need.
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68th Legislature 2023 SJ 17.1
1 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
2 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
3 That the 68th Legislature of the State of Montana recognizes the many Montanans who have served in
4 the past and who currently serve to make Montana and the United States a better place to live.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature declare that 2023-2025 be recognized as the Era of
6 Recognition and Commemoration of the Montana National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve, and
7 the many active duty military personnel in service to their nation and encourage that expressions of recognition
8 be afforded to all currently serving and military veterans of Montana.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the
10 Governor of Montana, the Department Commander of the American Legion of Montana, the State Commander,
11 the State Senior Vice Commander, the State Junior Vice Commander, and the State Adjutant/Quartermaster of
12 the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Montana, the State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans of
13 Montana, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, each of the federally recognized tribal governments in Montana,
14 and each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation.
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