WHEREAS, The annual Daffodil Festival is a cherished tradition for the people of Pierce County and the Northwest; and
     WHEREAS, The mission of the Daffodil Festival is to focus national and regional attention on our local area as a place to live and visit, to give citizens of Pierce County a civic endeavor where "Daffodils Delight," fostering civic pride, to give young people and organizations of the local area an opportunity to display their talents and abilities, to give vent to citizens' enthusiasm in parades, pageantry, and events, and to stimulate the business economy through expenditures by and for the Festival and by visitors attracted during Festival Week; and
     WHEREAS, 2006 marks the Seventy-third annual Daffodil Festival; and
     WHEREAS, The Festival began in 1926 as a modest garden party in Sumner and grew steadily each year until 1934, when flowers, which previously had been largely discarded in favor of daffodil bulbs, were used to decorate cars and bicycles for a short parade through Tacoma; and
     WHEREAS, The Festival 2006 events are ongoing and will culminate in the April 22, 2006, Grand Floral Street Parade, winding its way from downtown Tacoma through the communities of Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting; and
     WHEREAS, This year's Festival royalty includes princesses Jasmine Arabia, Chief Leschi High School; Amy Callaghan, Lincoln High School; Ali Ciarochi, Stadium High School; Corrina Czerwonka, Clover Park High School; Hollie Eads, Emerald Ridge High School; Shallae Eugley, Fife High School; Ann Hansen, Wilson High School; Amanda Kappelman, Lakes High School; Gina Maulupe, Spanaway Lake High School; Erin McFarland, Sumner High School; Ashley Miller, Bethel High School; Kaleigh Jo Murphy, Franklin Pierce High School; Hannah Parker, Henry Foss High School; Lauren Rine, Puyallup High School; Mollie Ruiz, Curtis High School; Sarra Schlegel, Eatonville High School; Heather Soto, Rogers High School; Arielle Valenzuela, Washington High School; Taylor Williams, Orting High School; and Ashley Woods, Mt. Tahoma High School;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the many contributions made to our state by the Daffodil Festival and its organizers for the past Seventy-three years; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the 2006 Daffodil Festival Officers and to the members of the Festival Royalty.