Overview

• House concurrent resolution commemorating Fort McCoy's 100th anniversary as an Army installation in Sparta, Wisconsin
• Recognizes the fort's role training soldiers across multiple wars and conflicts from 1909 to present
• Status: Introduced March 5, 2009, referred to House Armed Services Committee

Who does this affect?

• Main groups: Veterans who trained at Fort McCoy, current military personnel, Wisconsin residents near the installation
• Who benefits: Fort McCoy receives Congressional recognition for its historical contributions to national defense
• Teen impact score: 1/10 (commemorates military history with no direct teen connection)

What This Bill Does

• Formally honors Fort McCoy on the 100th anniversary of the Army purchasing the McCoy farm and establishing the Sparta Maneuver Tract on June 8, 1909
• Commends military personnel and civilian workers who have served at the installation throughout its history
• Acknowledges Fort McCoy's role training over 100,000 soldiers annually and preparing 85,000 personnel for deployment since September 11, 2001
• Recognizes the fort's historical uses including: artillery training for WWI, housing 15,000 Cuban refugees in 1980, serving as a prisoner-of-war camp for 4 years, and mobilizing 18,000 soldiers for Desert Shield/Desert Storm
• Notes the facility's designation change from Camp McCoy to Fort McCoy on September 30, 1974, reflecting its status as a year-round training facility

Legislative Status

• Introduced in House on March 5, 2009
• Referred to Subcommittee on Military Personnel on March 31, 2009
• Remains in committee with no further action

In short

• Congress formally recognizes Fort McCoy's 100 years of military service in Wisconsin.
• The resolution traces the fort's history from a 4,000-acre farm purchase in 1909 through its current role training 100,000+ soldiers yearly.
• This is a symbolic honor with no funding, programs, or policy changes.
• The resolution acknowledges both proud moments and difficult history, including the fort's temporary use as a Japanese American internment camp.
• Eight Wisconsin representatives cosponsored this bipartisan commemoration.

Why should I care?

Military installations like Fort McCoy shape local economies and communities for generations. Understanding how Congress recognizes military history helps explain the relationship between defense policy and civilian life. While this resolution creates no new programs, it shows how lawmakers honor institutions that train soldiers who deploy worldwide. For Wisconsin families with military connections, Fort McCoy represents a century of service. The resolution also acknowledges difficult chapters like Japanese American internment, showing how Congress can recognize both achievements and injustices in American history.