HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2011-4629, by Representatives Billig, Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Angel, Appleton, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Blake, Buys, Carlyle, Chandler, Chopp, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Crouse, Dahlquist, Dammeier, Darneille, DeBolt, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Fagan, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Frockt, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hasegawa, Hinkle, Hope, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jacks, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kirby, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, McCune, Miloscia, Moeller, Morris, Moscoso, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Orwall, Overstreet, Parker, Pearson, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Probst, Reykdal, Rivers, Roberts, Rodne, Rolfes, Ross, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Seaquist, Sells, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Takko, Taylor, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, and Zeiger

     WHEREAS, Children represent the hopes and dreams we have for a better and brighter future, and remind us that those hopes and dreams are attainable; and
     WHEREAS, Each and every child brings special gifts and abilities with them into the world, and it is our duty to nurture and encourage those gifts and abilities; and
     WHEREAS, Children's Day in the House of Representatives is a time to honor and celebrate the children of our state, nation, and world, and the joy they bring to our lives; and
     WHEREAS, Today's children are tomorrow's leaders and decision makers, whose ideas will be shaped by the experiences of their formative years; and
     WHEREAS, Everyone's life is touched by a child at one time or another, in ways big and small, and each of us has the responsibility to set a good example for the children we meet; and
     WHEREAS, Parents are a child's first and most important teacher, whose unconditional love, enduring support, and gentle guidance are the greatest treasure they can give; and
     WHEREAS, When we embrace children with love and respect, those values are reflected back, and we thus encourage the formation of a caring and compassionate society; and
     WHEREAS, Since 1995 this body has observed Children's Day as a most special and reverent celebration of Washington's children; and
     WHEREAS, The wonder and magic of childhood is but a fleeting period in the life span of a human being, and one that must be forever cherished; and
     WHEREAS, Children are our legacy, and our greatest resource and gift to the future; and
     WHEREAS, Garrison Keillor once said, "Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted";
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrates the children of the State of Washington and encourages all of its citizens to celebrate children on Children's Day and throughout the year by nurturing them with love, attention, and encouragement, and the child within all of us should shine through, reminding us of when we ourselves were children.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4629 adopted by the House of Representatives
February 21, 2011

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Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk