WHEREAS, Vancouver Naval Sea Cadet Charles Stauder III, without
regard for his own safety, responded quickly, heroically, and with
great determination recently in preventing and warding off tragedy
during an overnight Sea Cadet drill; and
WHEREAS, Cadet Stauder, a twelve-year-old student at Discovery
Middle School in Vancouver, discovered dense and very threatening smoke
in the ship's galley; and
WHEREAS, A young man with fortitude and quick-thinking skills far
beyond his years, Cadet Stauder raced to alert damage-control personnel
and then secured a fire extinguisher to put out the fire himself; and
WHEREAS, Cadet Stauder was awarded the Distinguished Service Ribbon
for Heroism for his courageous and beneficent devotion both to his
shipmates and to the highest, most honorable traditions of the United
States Navy and the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps; and
WHEREAS, This Vancouver hero, already a three-year veteran as a
junior Sea Cadet, will receive a well-earned promotion to the Fort
Vancouver Sea Cadet Senior Division when he attains his thirteenth
birthday; and
WHEREAS, Cadet Stauder, a student at Discovery Middle School in
Vancouver, was warmly saluted by the Commanding Officer of the Fort
Vancouver Division; and
WHEREAS, The leadership of the Sea Cadets emphasized that this
young man's heroic response to a very dangerous situation was "in
keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy and the
United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps," and further Cadet Stauder's
heroism certainly also brings "great credit upon himself, his family,
and the Corps"; and
WHEREAS, Cadet Stauder said that, when he is asked what the Sea
Cadet Corps means to him, he will respond: "Respect"; and
WHEREAS, Naval Sea Cadets are young men and women between the ages
of ten and a half years old and seventeen years old; and
WHEREAS, Cadet Stauder and his peers in the Sea Cadets learn about
courage, self-reliance, confidence, patriotism, and other admirable
qualities in their service in the Naval Sea Cadet organization;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of
Washington honor the spirit, the courage, and the mettle of Naval Sea
Cadet Charles Stauder III; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Naval Sea
Cadet Charles Stauder III and his family, to the Fort Vancouver Sea
Cadet Division, and to Discovery Middle School.