Last week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., backed U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton’s, R-Ark., resolution to mark October 23 as a national day of remembrance to honor American military personnel killed in a terrorist attack on the U.S. Marines Corp barrack in Beirut on October 23, 1983.
Other supports of the resolution include U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Penn., Chris Coons, D-Del., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Doug Jones, D-Ala., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Thom Tillis, R-NC, Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, and Todd Young, R-Ind.
“This fateful day in 1983 marks the deadliest day for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima. Iran’s terrorist proxy Hezbollah killed 220 Marines, along with 21 other service members across our Armed Forces,” Cotton said. “Our resolution makes certain that our nation remembers their sacrifice on the anniversary of their tragic deaths.”
“Thirty seven years ago, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group, attacked the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut killing 241 U.S. Service Members,” Rubio said. “I am proud to join this bipartisan resolution, which would designate October 23, 2020 as a national day of remembrance in honor of the American heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty.”
“In 1983, the lives of over 220 Americans were tragically lost in a brazen and cowardly attack on a Marine compound in Beirut, Lebanon. Today, 37 years later, we continue to honor the memory of these brave Americans and their ultimate sacrifices for our freedom. We must never forget them or the families they left behind,” Jones said.
“The deadly barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, on this day in 1983 took the lives of 220 Marines and 21 other military personnel serving on a mission of peace. Honoring the sacrifice of my fellow Marines, and all those who lost loved ones in the bombing, is the least we can do to pay tribute to these heroes. I’m proud to introduce this resolution to mark today as a national day of remembrance for the fearless members of the United States Armed Forces who fell for our country 37 years ago,” Young said.
The resolution was sent to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last week.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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