SENATE RESOLUTION

8775

By Senators Rasmussen, Sheldon, B., Sheahan and Hewitt

            WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize and honor the contributions of national leaders who have served our country with a high degree of excellence; and

            WHEREAS, United States Senator John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, the son and grandson of prominent Navy admirals; and

            WHEREAS, John McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, and served in the Vietnam War; and

            WHEREAS, John McCain was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for five and one-half years; and

            WHEREAS, John McCain earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to America during the Vietnam War; and

            WHEREAS, John McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and to the United States Senate in 1985; and

            WHEREAS, United States Senator John Kerry was born in Denver, Colorado at Fitzimmons Military Hospital where his father, Richard, a volunteer in the Army Air Corps was serving during World War II; and

            WHEREAS, John Kerry volunteered for combat duty service in Vietnam after his graduation from college and was an officer on a gunboat in the Mekong Delta; and

            WHEREAS, John Kerry earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star and three awards of the Purple Heart for his heroism in combat; and

            WHEREAS, John Kerry was elected to the United States Senate in 1984; and

            WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have worked tirelessly throughout their

Senate careers to help our Nation's veterans and help America heal from the wounds of Vietnam, by pushing for treatment of veterans suffering the fall-out of Agent Orange, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and through an unprecedented investigation to determine the fate of Americans still missing in action in Vietnam; and

            WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have worked in a bipartisan way to improve U.S.-Vietnamese relations; and

            WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have been true champions to the thousands of veterans here in Washington state and around the country, fighting for improved health care, benefits, and treatment of veterans;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor John McCain and John Kerry as great patriots who have served this great Nation throughout their lives, fighting for veterans; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Senator John McCain and Senator John Kerry.

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

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8775,

adopted by the Senate February 28, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate