WHEREAS, Michael Reagan's reverence for our service men and women has led him to providing families who have lost loved ones with comfort in their greatest hour of need; and
     WHEREAS, In the true Marine tradition of never leaving a man behind, Mr. Reagan has made it his life's work to immortalize our nation's fallen service men and women through the Fallen Heroes Project; and
     WHEREAS, A former Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Mr. Reagan has honored the Marine tradition of paying tribute to fallen soldiers through his art; and
     WHEREAS, He is working tirelessly to provide surviving family members with hand drawn portraits of loved ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; and
     WHEREAS, The goal of Mr. Reagan's project is to depict all of our country's fallen soldiers, more than 5,800 since these conflicts began; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Reagan's true calling began 5 years ago when a young widow commissioned him to draw a portrait of the husband she lost in the Iraq War; and
     WHEREAS, As a combat veteran himself, Mr. Reagan understands the horrors of war and holds a great respect for those who have given their lives in service of our country; and
     WHEREAS, He refused payment for the portrait and committed himself to providing surviving families with portraits of every man and woman killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; and
     WHEREAS, To date, Mr. Reagan has completed over 2,400 portraits of our country's service men and women, helping to bring those home who have made the ultimate sacrifice; and
     WHEREAS, Mr. Reagan has spent his lifetime serving our country, not just during the Vietnam War and as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8870 in Edmonds, but also through his work raising money for charities throughout our state; and
     WHEREAS, During his 30 year career as an artist, Mr. Reagan has completed over 10,000 portraits of U.S. Presidents, celebrities, and athletes; and
     WHEREAS, The signed celebrity portraits he has donated on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club, The Humane Society, Children's Hospital, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have raised more than 10 million dollars for these deserving organizations;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate and Washingtonians from every corner of our state pay tribute to Michael Reagan and his tireless work on the Fallen Heroes Project and the comfort it provides the families of our service men and women; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we create further awareness of the Fallen Heroes Project and support the Michael G. Reagan Foundation to help Mr. Reagan achieve his true calling; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we too live by the words Semper Fi, meaning always faithful, and take a lesson from Mr. Reagan's actions, never forgetting the sacrifices made every day and throughout the history of our great country by the brave men and women who have given their lives so that all people of the world can live in peace and freedom; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Michael Reagan, VFW Post No. 8870 in Edmonds, Gold Star Mothers of Washington, and Colonel Mike Johnson.