REFERENCE TITLE: Beirut bombing; remembrance day

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SCR 1004

Introduced by Senators Borrelli: Allen S, Barto, Bowie, Fann, Farnsworth D, Kavanagh, Kerr, Petersen, Pratt, Worsley, Yee; Representatives Andrade, Bowers, Campbell, Cardenas, Cobb, Cook, Finchem, Grantham, John, Lawrence, Martinez, Mitchell, Nutt, Shooter, Thorpe

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

honoring the victims of the 1983 bombing of the united states marine barracks in beirut, lebanon and proclaiming october 23, 2018 as beirut bombing remembrance day in arizona.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, on the morning of October 23, 1983, a dump truck carrying up to 21,000 pounds of explosives drove into the United States Marine compound in Beirut, Lebanon and crashed into the 1^st Battalion, 8^th Marines Regimental Battalion Landing Team barracks; and

Whereas, this heinous bombing killed 220 United States Marines—the deadliest attack against the Marines since the Battle of Iwo Jima in  1945—as well as 18 sailors and three soldiers. The attack injured another 128 Americans; and

Whereas, at the time of the attack, 300 service members were living at the four-story building at the Beirut airport, some of the 1,800 Marines stationed in Beirut as part of the multinational peacekeeping mission implemented in 1982 in response to the Lebanese Civil War; and

Whereas, because so many vehicles drove by the Marine compound each day due to its proximity to the Beirut airport, it proved to be vulnerable to attack and difficult to defend; and

Whereas, at nearly the same time the Marine barracks were hit, a suicide bomber drove a truck into a building that housed French paratroopers in Beirut.  Fifty-eight French soldiers perished in that attack; and

Whereas, the surreal images of these senseless attacks deeply shocked and saddened Americans and, nearly 35 years later, continue to elicit sorrow in our nation. The victims' families will mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones forever; and

Whereas, the use of suicide bombers in the attacks marked a striking change in the way terror was carried out against the West, and the horrific events of that day signified the start of the global war on terror; and

Whereas, the reprehensible people who planned and executed these attacks proved that they cared nothing about the ideals for which America stands—freedom, tolerance, diversity and pluralism.  The ongoing death and violence terrorists have waged in the decades that followed show they are an enemy that will not be easily defeated, yet with each attack America stands united to condemn those who commit these deplorable acts of terrorism; and

Whereas, the men and women of the armed forces diligently serve the citizens of the United States and the State of Arizona through their selfless efforts to provide for the safety, security and well-being of our state and nation.  The 241 Americans who died on that day nearly 35 years ago are true heroes who are owed an extraordinary debt of gratitude for their tremendous service and ultimate sacrifice.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

1.  That the Members of the Legislature honor the memory of the 241 American service personnel who were killed in the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.

2.  That the Members of the Legislature proclaim October 23, 2018 as Beirut Bombing Remembrance Day in the State of Arizona.