Honoring the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and founder of the Elm Terrace/Abington Lansdale Hospital and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambulance corps.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1167 Honoring the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and founder of the Elm Terrace/ Abington Lansdale Hospital and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambulance corps. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 1, 2020 Mr. FITZPATRICK (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Ms. WILD, Ms. HOULAHAN, and Ms. DEAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and founder of the Elm Terrace/Abington Lansdale Hospital and the Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambu- lance corps. Whereas Mr. Boston attended Lincoln University, originally established as The Ashmun Institute, the Nation’s first degree-granting historically Black college and university; Whereas subsequently, Dr. Boston attended the Medico-Chi- rurgical College, an outgrowth of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Philadelphia which merged with the University of Pennsylvania Medical College and Jefferson Medical College; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:59 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1167.IH HR1167 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1167 IH Whereas when World War I began, Dr. Boston enlisted and was immediately given the rank of first lieutenant in the Army Medical Reserve Corps; Whereas African-American recruits, including Dr. Boston, were sent for medical training at the Medical Officers Training Camp, Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Whereas after completing his training, Dr. Boston was as- signed as a medical officer with the 317th Engineers Regiment of the 92d Division of the American Expedi- tionary Forces; Whereas Dr. Boston’s division fought bravely across France and in the bloody Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest operation of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I; Whereas the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the deadliest cam- paign in American history, resulting in more than 26,000 soldiers killed in action and more than 120,000 total cas- ualties; Whereas during his tour of duty, Dr. Boston treated soldiers while under aerial and gas attack; Whereas Dr. Boston served in France with the rank of cap- tain and ended his military service as a major; Whereas after the war, Dr. Boston returned to work in Phila- delphia and later settled in Lansdale where he opened the Elm Terrace Hospital, which was later renamed North Penn Hospital and subsequently became part of the Ab- ington Jefferson Health Systems; Whereas Dr. Boston also formed a First Aid Emergency Squad in Lansdale, eventually known as the Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:59 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1167.IH HR1167 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1167 IH Whereas as a Boy Scout official, Dr. Boston served as chair- man of Health and Safety for the General Nash District, Valley Forge Scout Council; Whereas Dr. Boston was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of Military Surgeons, the Montgomery Coun- ty Medical Society, and the American Medical Associa- tion; Whereas Dr. Boston died February 8, 1960, at 69 years of age, and was buried in Lansdale; and Whereas Jefferson Health and Abington Lansdale Hospital, along with the Borough of Lansdale, are honoring Dr. Boston, and a mural is being planned for the Lansdale Borough Hall: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representative honors 1 the life of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston as a World War 2 I veteran, military surgeon, community doctor, and found- 3 er of the Elm Terrace/Abington Lansdale Hospital and the 4 Volunteer Medical Service Corps (VMSC) ambulance 5 corps. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:59 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1167.IH HR1167 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS