SENATE RESOLUTION

                                                     1994-8665

By Senators West, Gaspard, Sellar, Owen, Snyder, Sutherland, Spanel, Rasmussen, Franklin, Haugen and Bauer

         WHEREAS, Over 9,000 men and women serve in the Washington National Guard as a key part of our national defense; and

         WHEREAS, These soldiers are Washington citizens from every community and legislative district who volunteer their time and talents to serve their fellow citizens with honor and pride; and

         WHEREAS, These soldiers are on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for immediate deployment in times of national or state emergencies; and

         WHEREAS, The Washington National Guard is on the front line in the war against drugs by participating in over 3,400 arrests and assisting in the seizure of over $300,000,000 in drugs, assets and cash; and

         WHEREAS, Local community support remains a top priority for the Washington National Guard who opened their armories over five hundred times in 1993 for public classes, food banks, and community activities; and

         WHEREAS, In support of the Governor and the Legislature's efforts to improve access to health care, the Washington National Guard initiated a program for medical personnel to provide care in underserved areas of our state; and

         WHEREAS, In 1993 the Washington National Guard answered numerous calls for assistance from local communities by providing personnel and equipment for missions varying from traditional color guards to hauling surplus food in support of anti-hunger initiatives; and

         WHEREAS, The Washington National Guard continues to play an essential part in our state's ability to protect lives and property in the event of natural disasters such as the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the Spokane Firestorm, floods in the Skagit County area, and the 1993 Inauguration Day Windstorm; and

         WHEREAS, The Washington National Guard promotes positive activities for youth in communities across our state by participating in D.A.R.E. activities, drug demand reduction presentations in local schools, and Camp Minuteman, a motivational summer youth program at Camp Murray;

         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and applaud the members of the Washington State National Guard for their dedication, pride and professional service to our nation and our state; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate expresses its appreciation to the family members and employers of each member of the Washington National Guard for their support; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted to the Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard, the Governor of the State of Washington, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of the Army, and to the President of the United States, the Honorable Bill Clinton.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1994-8665,

adopted by the Senate January 25, 1994.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate