SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8626

By Senators Oke, Craswell, Owen, Rasmussen and Thorsness

     WHEREAS, History will count Lee Belas, a son of Washington, a true hero in the age-old battle to secure lasting peace, freedom and the rule of law in our time; and

     WHEREAS, On February 27, 1991, fighting for a cause to which he was very personally devoted, Lee died when the helicopter in which he was flying was struck by enemy artillery over Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, Lee, aged twenty-two, took great pride in serving his country and fellow man as a member of the United States Army First Infantry Division, Fourth Aviation Battalion; and

     WHEREAS, Left with the memory of Lee's kind and gentle heart and of his heroic sacrifice, are Lee's parents Peter and Carol Belas of Port Orchard, Lee's sister Amy, and Lee's family and friends here and around the world; and

     WHEREAS, Lee had a deep and enduring interest in international understanding and communication, having travelled and studied abroad and having learned to speak French, German, Latin, Dutch, Russian and, most recently, Arabic; and

     WHEREAS, In his short lifetime Lee Belas displayed a level of commitment, courage and understanding that typifies the spirit of those serving on our behalf in the United States Armed Forces;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate does hereby recognize Lee Belas as a hero and patriot and expresses a debt of gratitude to Lee and to the members of his family for their supreme sacrifice; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate, in Lee's memory, hereby encourages donations to the Lee Belas International Scholarship Fund, to enable young people to study abroad in an effort to achieve greater international understanding; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the family of Lee Belas, to commanders of the Army First Infantry Aviation Battalion, and to the President of the United States, The Honorable George Bush.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8626,

adopted by the Senate March 7, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate