SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8674

By Senators Haugen, Snyder, Benton, Brown, Carlson, Constantine, Costa, Deccio, Eide, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Gardner, Hale, Hargrove,  Hewitt, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Long, McAuliffe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Parlette, Patterson, Prentice, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rossi, Sheahan, Sheldon, B., Sheldon, T., Shin, Spanel, Stevens, Swecker, Thibaudeau, West, Winsley, Zarelli

     WHEREAS, It is the tradition of the Washington State Senate to honor those who serve in our armed forces, risking their lives to protect our own; and

     WHEREAS, On April 1, a Navy plane based out of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station collided with a Chinese fighter jet and, after spinning into a sharp leftward roll and falling 8,000 feet, made an emergency landing at the Chinese military airfield on Hainan island; and

     WHEREAS, The 24 crew members of the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 were detained on the island during what has been deemed a Adiplomatic showdown@; and

     WHEREAS, Of the 24 crew members, 14 are from Oak Harbor and one is from Leavenworth; and

     WHEREAS, To show their support of and deep appreciation toward the captured crew, the city of Oak Harbor commenced a ABring Back VQ-1@ campaign, wrapping every other light pole and tree in the city with yellow ribbons; and

     WHEREAS, After 11 days, the crew members were released on humanitarian grounds; and

     WHEREAS, The crew members, who arrived safely in Hawaii on April 12, will return to Whidbey Island on Saturday, April 14 for what promises to be an emotional AWelcome Home VQ-1@celebration at the Ault Field hanger; and

     WHEREAS, Friends and family of the crew will be able to breathe a collective sigh of relief when the crew members walk off the plane at 4:30 p.m. to an anticipated crowd of 10,000 people; and  

     WHEREAS, The city of Oak Harbor will formally celebrate the crew=s return on April 28 during the Holland Happenings parade;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Washington State Senate does hereby recognize the selfless service of the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1 and welcome the crew home; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the members of the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8674,

adopted by the Senate April 13, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate