SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8726

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

     WHEREAS, Nearly seventy-eight hundred men and women of the Washington

National Guard serve the nation as guardians of American interests at home and abroad; and   

     WHEREAS, These recognized leaders in state, regional and national preparedness reside in every legislative district and volunteer their time and personal efforts to serve the needs of the people of Washington State; and

     WHEREAS, In the last year the Guard answered the state's call to support firefighting efforts in which thousands of acres of public and private lands were threatened; and

     WHEREAS, The Guard is providing security at airports in our state and at numerous locations across the globe in response to the horrific terrorist attacks of last September 11; and

     WHEREAS, The Guard continues to promote positive life styles and activities for Washington's youth through involvement in and support of highly effective drug prevention programs with school aged children and community based organizations; and

     WHEREAS, The Guard participates in the state's counter drug efforts by providing personnel and specialized equipment in support of seventy local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The dedication of these men and women last year contributed to hundreds of drug-related arrests and seizures and the destruction of millions of dollars of illegal drugs; and

     WHEREAS, The Guard adds value to communities by opening armories for public use for distance learning classes, food banks, and other community and youth activities. The Guard continues to build upon these readiness centers/armories throughout the state to enhance education, add to quality of life, and increased economic vitality;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Senate expresses its thanks and appreciation to the devoted families and dedicated employers of our Guard soldiers and airmen for their support, without which the Guard's missions could not be successful; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate recognizes the value of a strong and dedicated Washington National Guard to the viability, economy, safety, security and well-being of this state, both through the outstanding performance of its state emergency and disaster relief mission, and through the continued benefit to local communities by the presence of productively employed, drug-free, well equipped and trained Guard units and the readiness center/armories that house them; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard, the Governor of the State of Washington, the secretaries of the Army and Air Force, and the President of the United States.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8726,

adopted by the Senate January 25, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate