PRINTER'S NO. 1209
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
221
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, PHILLIPS-HILL, VOGEL, ARGALL, J. WARD,
BROWNE, MARTIN, HUTCHINSON, PITTMAN, SCHWANK, MENSCH AND
AUMENT, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating Pennsylvania's contribution to the Allied victory
in the First World War.
WHEREAS, September 26, 2019, marks the 101st anniversary of
the start of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; and
WHEREAS, This was the largest and costliest battle ever
fought by the armed forces of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The offensive spanned 47 days and eventually drew in
1.2 million United States troops; and
WHEREAS, By November 11, 1918, when the armistice was signed,
10,278 armed servicemembers from Pennsylvania had died and
26,252 were wounded; and
WHEREAS, The American Expeditionary Forces were given the
most difficult sector, the dense Argonne Forest and the vast
Meuse River Valley, and they attacked with the support of the
French Fourth Army on September 26, 1918; and
WHEREAS, The Meuse-Argonne Offensive had two strategic goals,
draw a significant number of German strategic reserves and
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sever the critical Sedan-Mezieres rail supply line; and
WHEREAS, Contrary to General John Pershing's optimism that
the United States forces would advance swiftly, fighting was
bitter and advancement was slow and painful; and
WHEREAS, Rather than a matter of days, success took weeks;
and
WHEREAS, It was not until November that, after a commitment
of 1.2 million men and more than 120,000 casualties, break-out,
exploitation and open warfare occurred; and
WHEREAS, Ultimately, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive played a
major role in the Allied victory, absorbing a significant number
of Germany's strategic reserve divisions, which enabled the
French, British and Belgium forces to break through the
Hindenburg Line and advance eastward; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania was a key contributor to the Allied
victory with the 28th, 79th and 80th Divisions, despite
encountering stiff resistance, helping to break the enemy's
defensive lines in Meuse-Argonne; and
WHEREAS, In total, more than 297,000 Pennsylvanians served in
the Great War and the toll of their contribution was a heavy one
with more than 36,500 casualties; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate Pennsylvania's
contribution to the Allied victory in the First World War.
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