H.C.R.

House concurrent resolution praising the bravery of Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips of Underhill and congratulating the U.S. Navy SEALs and the FBI on his dramatic rescue

Offered by:  All members of the House of Representatives

Offered by:  All members of the Senate

Whereas, beginning on Wednesday, April 8, Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips of Underhill suffered through five days of unbelievably stressful and life-threatening captivity in the Indian Ocean under the repressive control of Somali pirates, and

Whereas, Captain Phillips’ bravery and quick thinking from the start of this terrible ordeal was clear as he voluntarily offered himself instead of his crew to the pirates when they assaulted his ship, and

Whereas, the U.S. Navy responded immediately to the crisis by dispatching the destroyer U.S.S. Bainbridge, aircraft for aerial surveillance, and Navy SEALS and by calling in FBI hostage negotiation experts, and

Whereas, Captain Phillips’ first attempt at freedom proved fleeting as the pirates immediately retrieved him when he jumped off the lifeboat where he was being held, and

Whereas, on Saturday, April 11, President Obama authorized the Navy to use forceful action should it appear that Captain Phillips’ life was in danger, and

Whereas, at dusk on Sunday evening, April 12, the Navy SEALs observed that one of the pirates was pointing an automatic rifle directly at Captain Phillips, and

Whereas, three Navy SEALs, stationed on the stern of the Bainbridge, with the assistance of night-vision scopes, fired one remarkably accurate shot each, resulting in the deaths of the three pirates, and the Navy SEALs then boarded the lifeboat and freed Captain Phillips who had been tied and held at one end of the tiny vessel, and

Whereas, Captain Phillips in a public statement remarked that “the real heroes are the Navy, the SEALs, those who have brought me home,” and

Whereas, despite Captain Phillips’ modesty, President Obama stated, “I share the country’s admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew”, adding that Captain Phillips’ “courage is a model for all Americans,” and

Whereas, the members of the Maersk Alabama crew, now safely in port in Kenya, the Phillips family, and all Vermonters are thrilled and relieved that Captain Phillips’ horrendous ordeal is concluded, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly praises the bravery of Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips of Underhill and congratulates the U.S. Navy SEALs and the FBI on his dramatic rescue, and be it further