WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday that a resolution he co-sponsored with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) designating August 16, 2012 as “National Airborne Day” has passed the Senate.

The Resolution honors America’s airborne forces, including the 101st Airborne Division stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and calls on all Americans to observe National Airborne Day on August 16 of this year.  A copy of the resolution is HERE.

The resolutions reads: “Since the airborne forces, past and present, celebrate August 16, as the anniversary of the first official jump by the Army Parachute Test Platoon, August 16 is an appropriate day to recognize as National Airborne Day.”

“This resolution honors all airborne forces, but the people of Kentucky will especially want to pay tribute to the soldiers of Fort Campbell’s 101st Airborne for their extraordinary service,” Senator McConnell said. “The 101st Airborne Division, also known as ‘The Screaming Eagles,’ is one of the most respected divisions in our armed services, and frequently gets the first call when crisis strikes. They are the best America has to offer.”

The 101st Airborne specializes in the rapid deployment of soldiers into combat from helicopters. The division was founded in 1942 and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day during World War II.  Later, many of its members saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st continued to serve many critical missions in Vietnam and in the First Gulf War and, most recently, has served multiple deployments in the War on Terror.