BILL REQ. #:  S-3371.1 

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     TO THE HONORABLE DOUGLAS B. MACDONALD, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade, formed in 1968, is a unit of the Washington Army National Guard and includes armored, infantry, and cavalry battalions; and
     WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade is composed of 4,000 Guardsmen, including 3,400 men and women from Washington state; and
     WHEREAS, The 81st Armor Brigade was redesignated the 81st Brigade Combat Team prior to deployment; and
     WHEREAS, The 81st Brigade Combat Team traveled to Fort Irwin, California and the National Training Center in February of 2004 to prepare for their deployment; and
     WHEREAS, Immediately thereafter, the 81st Brigade Combat Team was deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia; and
     WHEREAS, Members of the 81st Brigade Combat Team were stationed at locations across Iraq, including Mosul, Balad, Baghdad, the International Airport, and various other locations in southern Iraq, including Tallil Air Base; and
     WHEREAS, The 81st Brigade Combat Team distinguished themselves by successfully conducting 9,075 combat patrols, 77 combat raids, 197 cordon and searches, and participated in 162 combat engagements; and
     WHEREAS, The last large group of the 81st Brigade Combat Team returned on March 31, 2005; and
     WHEREAS, The month of March also marked the return of several other smaller, though no less important Washington Army National Guard units, including the 116th and 248th Rear Area Operations Centers, members of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, and Field Support Team Favero of the Information Operations Support Center; and
     WHEREAS, Two hundred soldiers suffered injury or illness; and
     WHEREAS, We will never forget the ten soldiers from the 81st Brigade who were killed in combat; and
     WHEREAS, The citizens of Washington state wish to acknowledge and memorialize their gratitude to all of the members of the 81st Brigade Combat Team who served their country so courageously and honorably;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request that the Washington State Transportation Commission commence proceedings to name the Berkeley Street crossing of Interstate Five in the city of Lakewood the "Freedom Bridge."
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Douglas MacDonald, Secretary of Transportation, the Washington State Transportation Commission, and the Washington State Department of Transportation.