LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 98th Anniversary of the Battle
of Belleau Wood on June 25, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate events
of historical significance as well as to honor members of the Armed
Services from the State of New York, who have courageously sacrificed
their lives in order to preserve the principles of freedom and democracy
for all the citizens of this great Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 98th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood: Honoring our
World War I and Marine Corps History, on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at the
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York; and
WHEREAS, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor will commemorate the
98th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood; this program will high-
light not only this first major American offensive of World War I, but
also the role of the United States Marines who were engaged there; and
WHEREAS, Belleau Wood has become an integral part of Marine Corps lore
as it was at this battle that the Marine Corps was transformed into the
large scale fighting force that we think of today; the program will
include a lecture followed by a short film, generously loaned to the
Hall of Honor by the National Museum of the Marine Corps, depicting a
Marine attack during this battle; and
WHEREAS, Comprising two related actions, firstly at Chateau-Thierry
from June 3-4, 1918, and then at Belleau Wood itself from June 6-26,
1918, the Battle of Belleau Wood saw the re-capture by United States
forces of the wood on the Metz-Paris road taken at the end of May by
German Seventh Army forces arriving at the Marne River around Chateau-
Thierry, and held by four divisions as part of the German Aisne offen-
sive; and
WHEREAS, Chateau-Thierry formed the tip of the German advance towards
Paris, some 50 miles south-west; defended by U.S. Second and Third Divi-
sions, the Americans launched a counter-attack on June 3-4, 1918, with
the assistance of the French Tenth Colonial Division; in a spirited
action, together they succeeded in pushing the Germans back across the
Marne to Jaulgonne; and
WHEREAS, Rejuvenated by success first at Cantigny, and now at
Chateau-Thierry, Second Division forces followed up Chateau-Thierry two
days later with the difficult exercise of capturing Belleau Wood; and
WHEREAS, Second Division's Marine Corps, under James Harbord, were
tasked with the taking of the wood; this perilous venture involved a
murderous trek across an open wheat field, swept from end to end by
German machine gun fire; and
WHEREAS, As a consequence of the open nature of the advance on the
wood, casualties on the first day, June 6, 1918, were the highest in
Marine Corps history; and
WHEREAS, Fiercely defended by the Germans, the Belleau Wood was first
taken by the Marines and Third Infantry Brigade, then ceded back to the
Germans, and again taken by the United States forces a total of six
times before the Germans were finally expelled; also captured were the
nearby villages of Vaux and Bouresche; and
WHEREAS, The battle ran for 20 long days, and by its end, the United
States suffered 9,777 casualties, of which 1,811 were fatal; more crit-
ically, the combined Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood action brought to
an end the last major German offensive of the war; and

WHEREAS, The banner of freedom will always wave over our beloved New
York and all of America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave;
and
WHEREAS, The freedoms and security we cherish as Americans come at a
very high price for those serving in the military in times of conflict;
it is fitting and proper that we who are the beneficiaries of those who
risk their lives, leaving their families behind, express our appreci-
ation and eternal gratitude for their sacrifices and courageous acts;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 98th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleau Wood on June
25, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New
York.