WHEREAS, On April 25, 1854, the Washington Territorial Assembly created Walla Walla County by setting aside 110,000 square miles; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County will celebrate its sesquicentennial on April 25, 2004; and
     WHEREAS, The Walla Walla board of county commissioners has selected a county flag designed by Janice Mason to commemorate the historical event; and
     WHEREAS, In 1805 Lewis and Clark first passed through Walla Walla County; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County was one of the first areas in the region between the Rockies and the Cascades to be permanently settled; and
     WHEREAS, Fort Walla Walla was built in 1818, which later became a military fort in 1856; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State's Constitution was ratified in Walla Walla County; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County had the first institution of higher learning in the Pacific Northwest with the establishment of Whitman Seminary, now Whitman College; and
     WHEREAS, The first bank in Washington, Baker Boyer National Bank, was established in Walla Walla in 1869; and
     WHEREAS, The first railroad service opened in 1891 as the Walla Walla/Columbia Railroad; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County is best known for its Walla Walla Sweet Onion, where high standards must be met to use the genuine Walla Walla Sweet label; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County is home to two of the world's largest farms, having the largest Concord grape vineyard known as the Snake River Vineyard and the largest apple orchard known as the Broetje Orchards; and
     WHEREAS, Walla Walla County has received national and international acclaim for its world class wines; and
     WHEREAS, The city of Walla Walla was recently put on the National Trust for Historic Preservation and received the 2001 Great American Main Street Award;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, that Walla Walla County be congratulated and honored for its prominent achievements and outstanding contributions to the state of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the county commissioners of Walla Walla County.