Representatives Bishop, Buyer, Shimkus And Taylor Introduce Resolution To Honor Army Reserve

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) and Steve Buyer (R-IN), along with Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and John Shimkus (R-IL), today introduced a resolution that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Reserve. The bipartisan resolution was introduced with over 230 original co-sponsors, more than half the current membership in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As a former Army reservist, I am very gratified by the outpouring of bipartisan support for this resolution,” Bishop said. “This resolution indicates the high regard in which the Army Reserve is held among Members of Congress and the American public. We dedicate this resolution to the memory of all Reserve soldiers who fought and died to defend our nation’s freedoms throughout our history and to the men and women who continue to serve our nation in the U.S. Army Reserve today.”

“This resolution represents a great opportunity for Congress to recognize the incredible history of service, sacrifice, and accomplishment of the soldiers who have served in the Army Reserve since its inception. Through war and peace those men and women, citizen soldiers, have contributed so much, answering the nation’s call to ensure that liberty endures. I am proud to be counted among their ranks,” Buyer commented.

"At a time when Reservists are meeting the needs of our country by serving in numerous capacities around the world, I am encouraged and pleased to cosponsor this resolution. As a Reservist myself, it is also an honor to be part of an organization that has served so ably for the past 100 years. It is also heartening that a majority of our colleagues are joining with us to cosponsor this resolution," said Shimkus.

“In the past century, the Army Reserve has grown from a small contingent of 360 doctors of the Medical Reserve Corps to today’s modern force of over one million soldiers who comprise the Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve and the Retired Reserve. Since September 11, 2001, 157,423 Army Reserve soldiers have been mobilized for Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. This resolution is a fitting tribute that will honor all those who have served in United States Army Reserve for the past 100 years,” said Taylor.

The Army Reserve was created by Congress on April 23, 1908, to support the Active Army in times of national crisis. Initially, it included 360 medical professionals but over the past century the scope and size of the Army Reserve has grown. Today, nearly 200,000 Army Reserve Soldiers provide support to the Army with skills they acquire from both military and civilian training and experiences.

Throughout the past century, the Army Reserve has played an important role in each of our nation's major conflicts, including World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam conflict, the Gulf War, as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief missions. Since September 11, 2001, the Army Reserve has mobilized over 170,000 Soldiers in support of the Global War on Terror as well.

"Today’s Army Reserve is no longer a strategic reserve, instead it is an operational force and an integral part of the world’s greatest Army,” said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, Chief, Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve's 100th Anniversary commemoration will be celebrated in Washington, D.C. on April 23, 2008, and will include the enlistment of 100 Army Reserve Soldiers in both Washington D.C. and Iraq as well as local events at Army Reserve units around the country over the next year.