WHEREAS, The people of Washington State stand behind the men and women carrying out Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and

WHEREAS, Nearly eight thousand five hundred regular, reserve, and National Guard service men and women from Washington State are directly supporting the war to free the people of Kuwait; and

WHEREAS, We pray for the successful accomplishment of their mission and their safe return; and

WHEREAS, These troops have put their personal priorities aside, their jobs on hold, and dedicated their personal safety to freeing others from oppression; and

WHEREAS, The families of these men and women have sacrificed the comfort of close family relationships, income, and security, trading them for the uncertainty and instability that war brings; and

WHEREAS, Each person has a crucial role to play in the success of Operation Desert Storm; and

WHEREAS, Over two thousand three hundred regular Naval personnel are serving as pilots, on ships, and in the medical corps in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, Another four hundred Naval reservists have been called up to participate in Operation Desert Storm; and

WHEREAS, More than seven hundred regular Air Force men and women are assisting in the Supply Squadron, Transportation Squadron, Combat Control, and Security Police; and

WHEREAS, Another six hundred Air Force reservists have joined them in these squadrons; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-seven active duty units, or nearly two thousand five hundred men and women, of the Army have been deployed to support Operation Desert Storm; and

WHEREAS, Another nineteen Army Reserve units, nearly one thousand one hundred persons including the 50th General Hospital of over seven hundred men and women, and one hundred thirty-three National Guard personnel have been deployed; and

WHEREAS, The Washington Air and Army National Guard has on active duty approximately three hundred twenty-five men and women in the 141st Air Refueling Wing, the 252nd Combat Communications Group, the 241st and the 1444th Transportation Detachments, and the 116th Support Center; and

WHEREAS, These numbers change daily as men and women are called up, moved out, and redeployed; and

WHEREAS, All six-month rotations have been canceled until further notice, and men and women are serving on an indefinite rotation; and

WHEREAS, Reservists and National Guard personnel will be returning to their families, homes, and jobs when Operation Desert Storm is over; and

WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes the Reservist and National Guard personnel's concerns about reentering the job marketplace;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend and honor the men and women who are carrying the mission of freedom to a distant land, offer comfort and succor to their gallant families, and encourage those at home to welcome them back when their mission is accomplished; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Major General Gregory P. Barlow, Lt. Commander Keith Arterburn, Navy Lt. Commander Jim Britt, Col. Mike McCarthy, and the I Corps Public Affairs Office.