SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8716

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

     WHEREAS, Sergeant Nathan P. Hays of Wilbur, Washington, served his country most admirably as a Marine; and

     WHEREAS, A 1999 graduate of Wilbur High School, Hays was the only member of his class to join the military right out of high school, as he knew for years that he wanted to be a Marine; and

     WHEREAS, Always an athlete, Hays participated in wrestling, played baseball, and won all-league honors as a tight end and linebacker on his high school football team; and

     WHEREAS, As a high school junior, Hays completed his Eagle Scout project by raising $5,100, gathering donated materials and signing up volunteers to help him with the physical labor involved in erecting a new baseball scoreboard for the town of Wilbur; and

     WHEREAS, twenty-one-year-old Hays also loved hunting and was described by many as an extremely polite young man who possessed a quiet strength; and

     WHEREAS, On January 9, a U.S. military tanker plane involved in the AOperation Enduring Freedom@ effort crashed into a mountain in Pakistan while making a landing approach, killing all seven Marines on board, including Hays; and

     WHEREAS, Hays is survived by his father, Washington State Patrol trooper James Hays; his mother Kimberly Hays; his older brother Patrick; and his younger sister Kassie;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That we express our deepest sympathy to the family of Nathan P. Hays in this time of extreme sorrow; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we commend the courageous actions of Sergeant Hays, recognizing his loyalty, commitment and selfless service in defending the United States B even at the cost of his own life; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby express their most heartfelt appreciation to Sergeant Hays for his outstanding example of patriotism in the cause of peace and freedom, and recognize his ultimate sacrifice in service to his country; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the family of Sergeant Hays.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8716,

adopted by the Senate January 18, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate