WHEREAS, Over eight thousand five hundred men and women of the
Washington National Guard, comprised of Air National Guard and Army
National Guard, continue to serve the country as Guardians of American
interests at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, These citizen-soldiers are recognized leaders in state,
regional, and national preparedness, reside in every legislative
district throughout Washington, and volunteer their time and personal
efforts to serve the needs of the people of Washington state; and
WHEREAS, The Washington Army National Guard includes the 81st Armor
Brigade (Separate) commanded by Brigadier General, Oscar B. Hilman; and
WHEREAS, The members of the 81st Armor Brigade stand ready to
defend the lives and property of the citizens of the state of
Washington, to defend this nation, and to defend the interests of
freedom around the world; and
WHEREAS, The federal mission of the 81st Armor Brigade is to
mobilize and deploy to a theater of operations to conduct combat
operations, redeploy, and demobilize, and its state mission is to be
prepared for employment in the protection of life and property, and the
preservation of peace, order, and public safety, and/or disaster relief
operations as required; and
WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade came into existence as "straight-leg" infantry in 1968 but its origins go back to World War I; and
WHEREAS, The Governor has called-up the 81st Armor Brigade to State
Active Duty on several occasions in past years to provide support in
protecting lives and property from natural disasters; the Snohomish
River valley flood in December 1975, the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in
May 1980, the "Thanksgiving Day Floods in November 1990, and the
massive forest fires in Eastern Washington in July to early September
1994, at which time 2,300 81st Armor Brigade personnel were fighting
fires and providing support for local, state, and federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade recently received Department of the
Army mobilization orders that brought them on active duty beginning
November 15, 2003, for eighteen months of federal active duty to
include at least 12 months in Iraq conducting security, support, and
stabilization operations; and
WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade is one of three National Guard
Enhanced Separate combat brigades nationwide that has been identified
to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS, Members of the 81st Armor Brigade will spend several weeks
of predeployment training at Fort Lewis and Yakima Training Center,
coordinating their absence with their employers, and putting their
personal affairs in order; and
WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade is made up of the 1st Battalion,
303rd Armor and 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, the 1st Battalion, 161st
Infantry, the 898th Engineer Battalion, the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field
Artillery, the 181st Support Battalion, Troop E, 303rd Cavalry, the
281st Military Intelligence Company, Delta Battery, 216th Air Defense
Artillery, and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Armor
Brigade; and
WHEREAS, The members of the 81st Armor Brigade are dedicated
troops, well-trained in all aspects of their mission, and perform their
duties with great confidence and skill; and
WHEREAS, The members of the 81st Armor Brigade make great personal
and professional sacrifices to serve our state and nation; and
WHEREAS, The families of the members of the 81st Armor Brigade
endure not only the hardship of separation, but offer the greatest gift
they possess on behalf of this nation - the health and life of their
loved ones; and
WHEREAS, The employers of the members of the 81st Armor Brigade
have gone above and beyond the call of duty with their support of the
Washington National Guard mission; and
WHEREAS, Major General, Timothy J. Lowenberg, commander of the
Washington National Guard, expressed his confidence that the 81st Armor
Brigade will be ready to take on this important mission;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
express its gratitude and appreciation to the soldiers and airmen of
the Washington National Guard and their families and employers without
whom the Washington National Guard's missions could not be successful;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
and honor the commitment to duty, bravery, and self-sacrifice of the
members of the 81st Armor Brigade, the devotion and sacrifice that is
made by their families and loved ones allowing them to serve our great
state and nation, and the support and sacrifice of their employers
ensuring them the opportunity and security to serve; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives to the Washington National Guard Commanding Officer,
Major General, Timothy J. Lowenberg; the 81st Armor Brigade Commanding
Officer, Brigadier General, Oscar B. Hilman; the Commanding Officer of
the 1st Battalion, 303rd Armor, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Kapral; the
Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, Lieutenant
Colonel Keith Lochner; the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion,
161st Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Fowler; the Commanding
Officer of the 898th Engineer Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Duane
Coffey; the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field
Artillery, Major Grant Lingg; the Commanding Officer of the 181st
Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Harry Gonzalez; the Commanding
Officer of Troop E 303rd Cav, Captain Anthony Lonsdale; the Commanding
Officer of the 281st Military Intelligence Company, Captain Stanley
Seo; the Commanding Officer of the Delta Battery, 216th Air Defense
Artillery, Major Peter Lillie; the Commanding Officer of the
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Armor Brigade, Major George
Dukes; the Governor of the State of Washington, the Honorable Gary
Locke; the Acting Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Les Brownlee;
the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld; and the
President of the United States, the Honorable George W. Bush.